John Gilmore Ford, an interior designer and South Asian art collector, died of heart failure on Dec. 21 at his North Baltimore home. He was 95.

“John had a brilliant eye. He found magnificent pieces in the 1960s,” said Gary Vikan, former Walters Art Museum director. “He also had the courage as a collector to go into unfamiliar areas, specifically, the arts of the Himalayas. “

Mr. Ford donated his works to the Walters in 2001, and it is the most important art gift given to the museum after its original collection amassed by William and Henry Walters, Mr. Vikan said.

Born in Baltimore, he was the son of Marian Mainhart, a secretary, and John Gilmore Ford Sr., a Buick dealer. A Baltimore City College and Johns Hopkins University graduate, he earned a bachelor’s degree in fine art at the Maryland Institute College of Art.

In 1962 he established John Ford Interior Design at 2601 N. Charles St. in Charles Village and retired in 2002.

He was initially mentored by his godfather, Edward O’Dell, an Asian snuff bottle collector. In 1963, he and Mr. O’Dell traveled to India and Nepal, visiting museums, temple sites and dealers. Mr. Ford acquired numerous objects and used a letter of credit from his family’s banker to win the confidence of antique dealers.

Several years later he joined an international group touring India. Indira Gandhi, then prime minister, offered a former maharaja’s luxury sleeper train at the group’s disposal and her personal chef to provide on-board meals. Mr. Ford again made numerous purchases.

Mr. Ford’s collection of Indian, Tibetan and Nepalese pieces was exhibited at the Walters Art Museum in 1971. The Indian ambassador attended and it was at this reception that Mr. Ford met his future wife, Berthe Hanover.

“They were an inseparable couple,” said Mr. Vikan. “They loved music as well and you would see them at the Baltimore Symphony at 3 p.m. and again, the same day, at the Shriver Hall Concerts at Hopkins at 5:30. The next day they would be off to Hong Kong. They had an energy I could not figure out.”

Mr. Ford founded the Friends of the Asian Collection at the Walters Art Museum. He was named a museum trustee in 1986.

In 2001 the John and Berthe Ford collection of 200 objects from India, Nepal and Tibet was exhibited at the Walters Art Museum in a show entitled, “Desire and Devotion: The Art of India, Nepal and Tibet.”

The collection subsequently traveled to other museums in the United States and Hong Kong. When the objects returned to Baltimore, the Fords presented the collection to the Walters where part of the collection is on permanent view in the Ford Gallery. Mr. Ford was also a past trustee of the Freer-Sackler Museums in Washington, D.C.

Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Berthe Hanover, a retired languages teacher at St Paul’s, Roland Park Country and Bryn Mawr schools; and a nephew, John Degele of Upperco in Baltimore County.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. on Jan. 11 at Grace United Methodist Church. 5407 N. Charles Street.

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