Lot 12

[COLLECTION OF PROF. J. GILBERT & CORA MCALLISTER] CHINESE ENAMELLED WHITE GLASS 'LANDSCAPE' SNUFF BOTTLE

ATTRIBUTED TO YANGZHOU, QIANLONG FOUR-CHARACTER SEAL MARK IN PALE IRON RED AND POSSIBLY OF THE PERIOD

Fine Asian Works of Art

Auction: 07 November 2025 from 10:00 GMT

Estimate: £800 - £1,200

Description

清傳揚州作坊礬紅四字「(乾)隆年製」篆書底款或到代涅白料胎畫琺瑯山水扁舟圖鼻煙壺

of oblong form, finely painted on both sides with a small boat with fisherman sailing on the river between mountainous landscape, the base inscribed with a four-character (Qian) Long Nian Zhi (made of Qianlong reign) in seal script in iron red, with stopper

Dimensions

height: 6.7cm; 7.6cm with stopper

Provenance

Collection of Prof. J. Gilbert & Cora McAllister, thence by descent based in England. With collector's handwritten note and Collector's Number 145, acquired from Dunt King in Hong Kong via Joseph Jones in 1966, with original invoice issued on 3rd June 1966, listed as “([no.]2, 1 pce. Opaque glass snuff bottle, Ko-Yueh-Hsuen type, with enamel glaze landscape and boat decoration, amethyst top, 18th century, with Chien Lung mark, [HK$] 200.00”. Together with Joseph Jones' hand-drawing of the snuff bottle and a letter to Gilbert & Cora on the University of Hong Kong, Department of English titled paper on 7th June 1966.

Dr. J. Gilbert McAllister (1904–1993) was Emeritus Professor in Anthropology at the University of Texas. Primarily a cultural anthropologist, he also carried out significant archaeological research. Cora McAllister (1904-1995) graduated from the University of Texas in 1924 as a Member of Phi Beta Kappa. In 1933–1934, she and Gilbert lived amongst Kiowa-Apache Indians in Oklahoma, where Gilbert conducted field research. In 1935, Gilbert was lured back to the University of Texas, where, by 1935, he became Chairman of the department and head of a large archaeological program. There, Gilbert (or Dr. Mac as he was affectionately known by his students) made his name as an archaeological administrator and especially as a remarkable teacher for over 33 years until his retirement in 1968. In a Memorial Resolution Committee Memorandum, it is noted that he had a “massive integrity about him” and “we talk about role models these days. He was one of the good ones.”

Cora and Gilbert’s large and eclectic collection was informed by a deep love for Asian cultures and antiquities, coupled with a scholarly approach. Their collection spanned vast time periods, materials, and included cultures of China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia and more. The collection was mostly acquired in the 1960s and 1970s, variously from Cora and Gilbert’s friends and fellow academics who made trips to Asia (some of whom were commissioned specifically by Gilbert), their usual dealers and contacts, as well as from fellow collectors.

For more information about Dr and Ms McAllister, please visit: https://shaybo-therisingtide.blogspot.com/2014/08/j-gilbert-mcallister-memorial.html?m=1

Footnote

Some scholarship argues that a distinctive group of glass bottles was produced in Yangzhou for the Court between 1767 and 1799, or perhaps even later. Bottles of this type are seen with either the Qianlong reign mark or the Guyue Xuan mark. For further discussion regarding this group of enameled glass bottles, refer to "Mysteries of the Ancient Moon", Hugh Moss, The International Chinese Snuff Bottle Society Journal, Spring 2006, pp. 31-32. Some enamelled glass snuff bottles of Yangzhou School are comparable to the present example: one decorated with 'noble occupations' of similar shape, with Qianlong four-character seal mark in iron-red and of the period, was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 28 November 2011, lot 380; few others of different shape, but similarly with Qianlong four-character seal mark in iron-red, were sold at Christie's New York: 22 Mar 2007, lot 81; 17 Sep 2010, lot 1174; and 23 Mar 2012, lot 1616.