Lot 17

[COLLECTION OF PROF. J. GILBERT & CORA MCALLISTER] FINE CHINESE BLACK, GREY AND WHITE JADE 'QILIN' SNUFF BOTTLE

SUZHOU SCHOOL TYPE, QING DYNASTY, 1750-1850

Fine Asian Works of Art

Auction: 07 November 2025 from 10:00 GMT

Estimate: £800 - £1,200

Description

清蘇作風格黑白玉雕麒麟吐書及祥鳳竹林紋鼻煙壺

of rounded rectangular shape, cleverly carved in high relief to one side with a vivid white mythical creature qilin against the ruyi-head clouds in black and grey tones, further carved a book on the top, the reverse in low relief and depicting a large phoenix standing on rockwork surrounded by bamboo groves, the rounded shoulder surmounted with a wide cylindrical neck with relatively small mouth opening and good interior hollowing, supported on a short foot ring, with jadeite stopper

Dimensions

height: 6.3cm; 7.5cm 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 155, acquired in 1974 from or via “VO”.

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

This bottle was possibly sourced and carved in the town of Suzhou. Famous for its gardens and canals, Suzhou was one of the main cultural centres in Qing-dynasty China, attracting many painters, calligraphers, poets, musicians and other talented individuals. Among this group of scholars and artisans were those skilled in the lapidary art. As seen on the present bottle, these skilled artisans created a tour de force, exploiting the dramatically contrasting black and white colours of the stone.

For a comparable Suzhou black and white carved jade snuff bottle, carved on the front with a horse and monkey, was in the Collection of Margaret Polak and sold at Bonhams New York, 24 March 2010, lot 138. Another black and white jade pendant carved with horse and monkey theme, also attributed to the Suzhou School, was in the Trudy and John Neville Cohen Collection and sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 5 May 2025, lot 15. For other Suzhou School black and white snuff bottles carved with comparably more typical themes with figures and garden, see: one in the Robert and Florette Weiss Collection and the other from the Francine and Bernard Wald Collection, sold at Bonhams New York, respectively on 16 September 2024, lot 185 and 17 March 2025, lot 209.