Looted Chinese relics sold for 14 million Euros each

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The deal follows Christie's announcement on its official website Tuesday, which estimated the individual prices between 8 and 10-million euros each.

The bronze sculpture of a rat's head, which is an ancient  Chinese relic, is auctioned in the Grand Palace of Paris  in Paris, France, Feb. 25, 2009. Two controversial ancient  Chinese relics including the bronze sculptures of a rat's  head and a rabbit's head, were auctioned off on Wednesday  night for 14 million euros each by anonymous telephone  bidders in Christies's sale of the collection of Yves  Saint Laurant and Pierre Berge in Paris. The sculptures  were looted by invading Anglo-French expedition army  in the 19th century, when the invaders burned down the  royal garden of Yuanmingyuan in Beijing.(Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

The bidding was conducted by telephone. Christie's refused to disclose who the bidders were.

Before the sale, Chinese students distributed sheets at the Grand Palace in Paris, explaining how the relics were looted during the Second Opium War.