艺术史上以前被忽略的宝藏之一——充满活力的叙利亚瓷砖，尤其是大马士革瓷砖——是这本由杰出的伊斯兰艺术专家所写的研究性专著的主题。建筑陶瓷装饰是伊斯兰艺术最**的表现之一。本书所介绍的瓷砖跨越13至20世纪，展现出来自波斯，土耳其，中国乃至欧洲的广泛影响。亚瑟•米尔纳（Arthur Millner）是伊斯兰和印度艺术领域的**专家，他探索了使叙利亚工匠的独特创造力得以蓬勃发展的历史背景，以及为什么该地区的瓷砖在艺术表现上受到的限制要比那些较知名的生产中心中心的瓷砖少。瓷砖设计，技术和调色板的复杂性和相互联系的本质得到了探讨，强调了大马士革陶瓷的独特之处以及它们与伊斯兰世界其他地区生产的瓷砖之间的关系。最后，作者描述了许多这些瓷砖走向西方的过程，它们因伊斯兰艺术在19世纪末期的艺术和设计中变得既时尚又有影响力而得以装饰有钱客户的室内。

One of art history’s previously overlooked treasures―the vibrant ceramic tiles of Syria and especially Damascus―are the subject of this fascinating study by a leading Islamic art expert. Architectural ceramic decoration is one of the most celebrated manifestations of the arts of Islam. Spanning a period from the 13th to the 20th century, the tiles featured in this book exhibit a rich range of influences from Persia, Turkey, China and even
Europe. A renowned specialist in the fields of Islamic and Indian art, Arthur Millner explores the historical context that allowed the uniquely creative achievement of Syrian craftsmen to flourish, and why tiles from this region are less restricted in artistic expression than those from better-known centers of production. The complex and interconnected nature of tile designs, techniques and color palettes is explored, highlighting what is distinctive about Damascus ceramics and how they relate to tiles produced in other parts of the Islamic world. Finally, the author traces the journey made by many of these tiles to the West, embellishing the interiors of wealthy clients as Islamic art became both fashionable and influential in late-19thcentury art and design.