Contact:
Melinda Medlin or Amy Koppel
Thompson & Baker
901/527-8000

or

Jeff Gaudino
Belz Enterprises
901-767-4780

Peabody Place Museum and Gallery Expands one of country’s most exquisite collections of art from China’s Manchu dynasty

MEMPHIS, Tennessee (December 2, 1999) – The Peabody Place Museum and Gallery, one of the country’s most extensive and rare collections of Chinese artistry, will open its newest wing to the public Friday, December 3.

The new wing, which is approximately 3,000 square feet, is divided into four galleries, which nearly doubles the size of the exhibition space. The expansion also allows for a traveling exhibit area.

The general aesthetics and mood of the Belz collection is kept constant with the addition of several exquisite pieces. The museum is now home to an eclectic collection of artwork and natural treasures including:

• Judaica pieces including menorahs, mezuzahs and torahs
• European contemporary art glass
• A mineral collection including a 75 million-year-old bird fossil from the Liaonins province of China and a petrified dinosaur egg
• Scholar stones which were used to inspire Asian ancient philosophers
• Italian mosaics, boxes and obelisks from semi-precious stones

“Given the enthusiastic response to the opening of the Peabody Place Museum and Gallery last year, my wife Marilyn and I decided to expand in order to share our diverse collection of artwork,” said Jack Belz, chairman and chief executive officer of Belz Enterprises. “Over the years we’ve collected many art forms. This is the first occasion we’ve had the opportunity to show some of these pieces to the public.”

Peabody Place Museum and Gallery remains one of America’s most exquisite collections, from the artistic legacy of the dynasty extending back as far as 2,000 years.

In addition to the many significant pieces added to the collection, Belz further expanded their collection of Chinese art by introducing pieces created from such elements as bronze and rock crystal. Two generals are placed as if guarding a major jadeite sculpture. A basin sculpted of rock crystal displays the intricate carvings symbolic of Chinese art.

The Peabody Place Museum and Gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday, and noon – 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the museum is $5 for adults, $4.50 for senior citizens, $4 for children under 12, and special rates for tour groups.

Belz is chairman and chief executive officer of Belz Enterprises, a leading innovator in real estate development with interests throughout the South and much of the country. Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company owns and manages more than 25 million square feet of industrial, warehouse and distribution centers, shopping centers, office buildings, mixed-use centers, apartments, and corporate campuses. Belz also owns a group of hotels including the world-famous Peabody Hotels in Memphis, Tennessee, and Orlando, Florida.

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