Mystery bidders snared a pair of ancient Chinese bronzes for US$20.3 million each as they went on the block at the record-smashing Yves Saint Laurent art auction despite protests from Beijing.

china govt angry at christie ysl auction of bronze statues 260609 03 The three-day sale of the spectacular gems that graced the homes of Saint Laurent and his companion Pierre Berge pulled in a total of US$484.5 million, making it the biggest private art sale in history.

The precious Qing dynasty fountainheads, looted from the imperial Summer Palace by British and French troops 150 years ago, were snapped up one after the other by anonymous telephone bidders on the third and last day of the sale.

China had demanded the relics returned, but the French government said it received no official request and the sale went ahead after a Paris court threw out a last-ditch bid to remove the bronzes from auction.

China on Thursday condemned what it called an illegal auction and warned Christie's auction house of consequences.

The State Administration of Cultural Heritage said the auction "harmed the cultural rights and hurt the feelings of China's people and will seriously impact (Christie's) development in China".

"The State Administration of Cultural Heritage resolutely opposes and condemns all auctions of artefacts illegally taken abroad. Christie's must take responsibility for the consequences created by this auction," the agency said in a separate statement.

A rat's head and a rabbit's head

china govt angry at christie ysl auction of bronze statues 260609 06 The 18th-century statues of a rat's head and a rabbit's head went on the block along with Roman marbles and Egyptian antiquities 2,000 years old collected over five decades by the late fashion designer and his partner.

They were among the last of 732 treasures to go under the hammer in a sale that defied the credit crunch, smashing 25 records as global art players sent prices for contemporart art, old masters, antique silver and Art Deco gems through the roof.

Bids rained in throughout the sale from 1,200 well-heeled seated buyers who flew in from around the world for the sale, and through 100 telephone operators.

A business tycoon, arts patron and committed leftwinger, Berge opted to sell the collection amassed over a lifetime after Saint Laurent's death last June aged 71.

He is offering the proceeds to fight AIDS and to a foundation honouring the legendary designer's work.

"I am very happy tonight. I am certain that all those who acquired these works of art will cherish them," Berge told reporters.

"If I had had the money I would've built a museum," he added. "I always believed art belonged to no one, and that these works were with us in transit though we were very, very lucky to live with them."

china govt angry at christie ysl auction of bronze statues 260609 05 "The time had come to separate with them."

Neither he nor auctioneers Christie's agreed to identify the buyers of the Chinese pieces or even state whether both were acquired by the same person.

"We are bound by the same confidentiality as doctors," said the deputy head of Christie's France, Francois de Ricqles. Berge quipped: "It wasn't me who bought the heads back!"

Protest by Chinese students

Groups of Chinese students handed out leaflets condemning the sale of the prized relics outside the vast Grand Palais exhibition hall where the auction took place.

china govt angry at christie ysl auction of bronze statues 260609 01 And shortly after their sale, Liu Yang, a Chinese lawyer who spearheaded efforts to have the pieces returned to Beijing, warned the failure to return them would not soothe Franco-Chinese ties, frayed over the sensitive issue of Tibet.

"I will not comment on diplomatic relations," he said. "But it will certainly harm relations between the peoples of both countries."

Bucking the economic downturn, the sale exceeded expectations, spurring hopes of a recovery in the flagging art market and reviving French dreams of seeing Paris recover its place as a major global art market capital.

"Tonight Paris reintroduced itself as the world's market centre," said Christie's CEO Edward Dolman.

Sales on Monday alone ushered in seven world records for modern artists - including Matisse, Mondrian, Klee and Brancusi.

A Matisse, the most expensive work sold during the auction, went for US$46.5 million dollars.

Day two saw a new frenzy of bids for Art Deco works, clinching the sale of the 20th century's most expensive piece of furniture - a leather armchair by Irish designer Eileen Gray - for US$28.2 million.