The star lot of Christie’s important Chinese ceramics works of art sale on May 30 was an early Ming underglaze copper-red vase, Yuhuchunping, Hongwu period, which fetched $10.2 million. Setting a world auction record price for any Ming porcelain, the vase was sold to Steve Wynn, chairman and chief executive officer of Wynn Resorts.

Wynn announced that he will be donating this exceptional piece to a museum in Macau, according to Christie’s. “In view of the importance of this piece, we are particularly thrilled that it will be returning to China where it can be enjoyed and appreciated by the maximum number of students and art lovers,” said Pola Antebi, senior vice president, specialist head of the Chinese ceramics and works of art department sale specialist.

The overall sale achieved more than $43 million, the highest total ever realized in this category at Christie’s. A complete review will appear in a future issue.