Looted Chinese relics sold for 14 million euros each

Source: Xinhua | 02-26-2009 08:12

PARIS, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Two controversial ancient Chinese relics were auctioned off on Wednesday night for 14 million euros (17.92 million U.S. dollars) each by anonymous telephone bidders in Christie's sale of the collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge in the Grand Palace of Paris.

A photographer takes a picture of the Chinese bronze rat  head and rabbit head sculptures displayed on the preview  of the auction of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge's  art collection at the Grand Palais in Paris, France,  Feb. 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The bronze sculptures, a rat's head and a rabbit's head, were looted by invading Anglo-French expedition army in the 19th century, when the invaders burned down the royal garden of Yuanmingyuan in Beijing.