Lot 6

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

QING DYNASTY, 18TH-19TH CENTURY

Fine Asian Works of Art

Auction: 07 November 2025 from 10:00 GMT

Estimate: £300 - £500

Description

清攪色仿雄黃玻璃鼻煙壺

of oval form, the body of rich maroon red hue with deep spots evenly interspersed between streaks of orange, with further orange inclusions at the collar and running down the sides, with a stopper

Dimensions

height: 6.1cm; 7cm 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 179; acquired from Dunt King in Hong Kong via Joseph Jones in 1966, with original invoice issued on 3rd June 1966, listed as “([no.] 12, 1 pce. Horn-bill-beak type glass snuff bottle, (pumpkin glass) plain, jade top, 19th century, [HK$] 60.00”.

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

According to Dr. Simon Kwan, the Chinese for such coloured glass should be read as 'woguarang' instead of 'xionghuang'. For more information and examples from the Muwen Tang Collection, see Dr. Simon Kwan, The Muwen Tang Collection series, Vol.19, Glass Snuff Bottles, Hong Kong, 2009, p.238, no.149. Compare also another examples sold at auctions: one from the Dr. Martin Roshco collection, sold at Bonhams New York, 20 March 2012, lot 16; one from The Paul Braga collection was sold at Bonhams Hong Kong, 24 November 2012, lot 95; one further from The Mary & George Bloch Collection was sold at Sotheby's Hong Kong, 25 November 2013, lot 66.

雄黃，又名雞冠石，是一種橘黃色的礦石，根據關善明博士研究，古時沒有「雄黃」這用詞，舊稱應為「倭瓜瓤」，例子及資料見關善明，《沐文堂收藏全集．卷十九．玻璃鼻煙壺》，香港，2009年，頁238，編號149。在拍賣場上出現過的相似例子: 紐約邦瀚斯，Dr. Martin Roshco珍藏，2012年3月20日，拍品16; 香港邦瀚斯, Paul Braga收藏, 2012年11月24日，拍品95; 香港蘇富比, Mary & George Bloch收藏, 2013年11月25日，拍品66。