Wynn buys $12.7M Chinese vase set for Macau casino

[July 09, 2011]  LAS VEGAS (AP) -- Wynn Resorts has acquired a rare set of antique Chinese vases to adorn its newest resort in the Chinese gambling enclave of Macau (mah-COW').

The Las Vegas-based company announced Friday it paid more than $12.7 million for four porcelain vases Thursday at a London auction.

The company says the price is more than double the world auction record for similar artifacts.

The vessels date from the late 1700s and early 1800s. Wynn Resorts says the only similar examples belong to the British Royal Family.

Buying the pieces is part of the Wynn company's project to bring Chinese art back to China.

The vases will be on display in a company resort set to open in 2015 on Macau's Cotai (KOH'-tie) Strip.

[Associated Press]

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