Diameter: 0.8 m  Height: 1.999 m

The gift was presented by the People’s Provincial Government of Hainan Province to celebrate Macao’s return to the motherland. This pair of vases is carved from coconut shells and inlaid with seashells. The coconut carvings have an elegant raw colour, showcasing the unique artistic style and rich local features. Hainan coconut carving has a long history, with wine cups carved from coconut shells dating as far back as the Tang dynasty (618 – 907). During Ming (1368 – 1644) and Qing dynasties (1644 – 1911), coconut carvings were regarded as precious gifts which were often presented to the emperors. 

The vases are made from 5,200 pieces of coconuts which are abundant in the province. The coconuts are first processed to achieve a uniform curve, then pieced together with traditional coconut carving techniques, and finally inlaid with precious green turban shells. The products showcase elaborate craftmanship and careful material selection. The vase bodies are decorated with several horizontal bands featuring ‘回 (hui)’-shaped patterns, a Chinese character representing ‘return’. The work expresses the joy and the good wishes from the 7 million people in the province for Macao’s reunification with its homeland.