Wynn Magazine - Las Vegas
Issue link: http://digital.greengale.com/i/39920
STEVE WYNN A Ming Dynasty vase formerly displayed at Wynn Macau and donated by Steve Wynn to the Macau Museum. left: A close-up of the vase repaying the country's kindness. "The first words Steve said to me about the design of Cotai were that he wanted to honor China in everything we did," Thomas explains. "Each of us feels exceptionally fortunate to be involved in Macau and the People's Republic of China. We as a company and Steve as an individual have been wonderfully treated, so it's our intent to honor the culture of China, the history of China and the art of China." At press time the vases were in the hands of a world-renowned restorer, one who, according to Thomas, "specializes in the care and feeding of Chinese porcelain." From there, they were scheduled to make the slow and careful trek to Macau, where they'll be temporarily displayed in the reception lobby of Encore Macau while Wynn Cotai is under construction. "Because we've acquired them so early, we have the luxury of designing a space around them," Thomas says, noting that their permanent home will be the VIP Wynn Club at the Cotai resort. The tapestry will likewise be displayed in the Macau lobby before it moves to a prominent place at Wynn Cotai's VIP Wynn Club. Such significant works are far from the last that will adorn a Wynn resort 24 WYNN in the People's Republic of China—and notably, they aren't the first. In May 2006, Wynn purchased a rare copper-red Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) vase at a Christie's auction in Hong Kong and briefly displayed the piece at Wynn Macau during the resort's opening in September of that year. Soon after Wynn donated the vase to the Macau Museum. "That had been the plan all along," Thomas says. "Copper-red Ming vases are extremely rare, especially of that exceptional design and condition, and with Wynn's entry into Macau, Steve wanted to make this piece a gift. He also liked the idea that it would immediately elevate the collection of this new museum." As the design for Wynn Cotai continues, Thomas says his radar remains focused on China-centric decorative pieces, such as Coromandel screens, porcelain vases and textiles. "Our goal is to bring the best of what China represents into this new resort," Thomas notes. "And by doing so, who knows how many great and important pieces of art will be making their way home to the People's Republic of China? We're making spaces especially for them, and in many ways, it completes the circle for some breathtaking examples of Chinese artistry." PHOTOGRAPHS BY BARBARA KRAFT