The set of historical Baluster vases will permanently reside in the new Cotai resort as part of the company's ongoing cultural commitment to China
Macau, July 8, 2011 — Wynn Macau Limited acquired an extraordinary group of important Jiaqing period (1796-1821) vases at CHRISTIE'S London sale on July 7, 2011. An invaluable part of Chinese culture, the set of four ormolu-mounted Chinese Porcelain Baluster vases were purchased at auction for more 7,993,250 pounds, including buyers premium (more than USD12.7 million), far exceeding twice the current world auction record for ormolu-mounted porcelain.
The pieces are distinctive in scale, quality and number with matched pairs being rare and matched quartets of this age and size never seen. The only known similar examples are in the collection of the British Royal Family.
These exceptional examples will be displayed exclusively in the company's Cotai Resort scheduled to open in 2015. The purchase was inspired by Steve Wynn's ongoing commitment to return artistic treasures to the People's Republic of China.
"We are delighted to be able to return these extraordinary examples of Chinese culture to the People's Republic of China, and place them on display in the city of Macau, which we are so fortunate to be a part of," said Steve Wynn, Chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts.
Wynn initiated the company's cultural commitment with the acquisition of a Ming glazed copper-red pear-shaped vase, Yuhuchunping, produced during Emperor Hongwu's reign (1368-1398). The vase was later donated to the Macao Special Administrative Region and is exhibited as part of the permanent collection of the Cultural Affairs Bureau's Macao Museum.
Other important examples of historic Chinese art, including examples of ceramics, cloisonné and textile Arts can be seen in the collections currently within Wynn Macau and Encore at Wynn Macau.
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