Asian Art

Treasures From Across Asia: The Collection of Prof. J. Gilbert & Cora McAllister

26 August 2025

Grace Tu

Dr. J. Gilbert Gilbert & Cora McAllister’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 pieces from China, Japan, Korea, South East Asia and more. This September, we are delighted to present a fine selection of examples (Part I, Lots 1-27, of the collection) which demonstrate the breadth of the collection in our Asian Works of Art auction.

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 archeological 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 the Kiowa-Apache 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 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.”

Asian Works of Art

Explore our Wednesday 10 September live online auction.

The Prof. J. Gilbert & Cora McAllister Collection of Asian Art

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.

MING DYNASTY

GROUP OF FIVE CHINESE SWATOW BLUE AND WHITE PLATES

明青花瑞獸花卉紋碟（共五件） two decorated with mythical beasts, one with crane, one with phoenix, and one with scrolling flowers (5)

In 1978, Cora and Gilbert purchased 88 pieces from Fred H. Wessman, a geophysicist who worked with Humble-Exxon for 25 years out of their Singapore office. Fred travelled extensively in Asia searching for oil including in Malaysia and Thailand and had a large collection of export porcelain.

A group of five Ming Dynasty Chinese Swatow blue and white plates (Lot 1) are some of the fine examples from the purchase. The plate featuring Collector’s Number W72 was reportedly purchased by Wessman in Singapore in 1968 from Wing an Cheun, W73 in Sarawak in 1969 and W74 apparently from “natives” in Sarawak, again in 1969; Collector’s Number 241 and 245 were both reportedly purchased in Singapore in 1970.

Wessman reportedly purchased a Thai Earthenware Vessel, Kendi (Lot 27) in Thailand in 1971. In Cora and Gilbert’s notes it is stated “Perfect and an elegant vessel. Fred says it is Ayutthaya [1351–1767], 2nd Capital later than Sawankhalok”.

AYUTTHAYA PERIOD, 1351-1767

THAI EARTHERNWARE VESSEL, KENDI

大城王朝泰國紅陶軍持 compressed globular body, tall cylindrical neck with flanged mouth, mammiform spout

Snuff bottles were particularly close to Cora and Gilbert’s hearts and they carefully curated a collection of all sorts with a mix of styles, materials and ages. Of particular interest was a group of three Chinese celadon jade snuff bottles (Lot 10). Two were purchased in auction in December 1975, whist the third snuff bottle was original a jade archer’s thumb ring and later made into a snuff bottle, acquired from “CS” in February 1976, according to their handwritten card.

QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

GROUP OF THREE CHINESE CELADON JADE SNUFF BOTTLES

清青玉鼻菸壺（共三件） comprising: one of flattened form carved with mythical masks on sides, a green stopper, 7cm high without stopper; one of flattened rectangular form, a green stopper, 6cm high without stopper; and one of cylindrical form, original as an archer’s thumb ring which was made into a snuff bottle, with metal mounted and a red stopper, 4.5cm high without stopper (3)

19TH-20TH CENTURY

GROUP OF FOUR CHINESE AGATE SNUFF BOTTLES

十九至二十世紀各式瑪瑙鼻菸壺（共四件） comprising: one with mythical beast masks carved to the sides, orangie red stopper, 6.4cm high without stopper; one darker of plain form, with a red stopper, 6.5cm high without stopper; one of lighter brown colour with raised panels carved to the sides, similar stopper, 5.7cm high without stopper; and one of plain oval form, green stopper, 5.3cm high without stopper (4)

They also loved agate and other stone bottles. A group of four Chinese agate Snuff Bottles (Lot 8) including one acquired in 1972 from ‘AS’ (Collector’s Number 12); Number 243 with handwritten note reading “lovely bottle, old and well hollowed butterscotch with brown markings”; and Number 140, a “beautifully worked” agate bottle with coral and silver top, was reportedly purchased for Cora in Hong Kong from Hai Tan Arts in March 1965, and then Number 259, acquire from “RM” in March 1977.

Two Chinese famille rose Snuff Bottles (Lot 13), including a Qianlong-mark porcelain snuff bottle, Collector’s Number 63, painted with butterflies with flowers, purchased in April 1965; Number 108, recorded on the Dunt King receipt (image 6, no. 11) and was purchased via Joseph Jones in November 1966 in Hong Kong.

QING DYNASTY, 19TH CENTURY

TWO CHINESE FAMILLE ROSE SNUFF BOTTLES

清粉彩人物紋及乾隆款花蝶紋鼻菸壺（共兩件） comprising: a flattened bulbous bottle painted with figures on each side, with a green stopper, 6cm high without stopper; and a cylindrical bottle painted with a butterfly with flowers, the base inscribed with an apocryphal Qianlong mark in underglaze blue, with an orange-red stopper, 8cm high without stopper (2)

Part I of the collection is offered with no reserve in our live online Asian Works of Art sale taking place on Wednesday 10 September 2025.

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Grace Tu

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