An 18th Century Chinese imperial seal has been sold for a record 21 million EUR (18 million pounds, 22 million dollars) - more than 20 times its estimated price.

近日，一块18世纪的中国玉玺以2100万欧元（折合1800万英镑，22亿美元）的成交价格被拍走，而这一成交价是预估价格的20多倍。

The sale, to an unnamed Chinese collector, took place in Paris last Wednesday after a heated bidding war, Drouot auction¹ house said.

据德鲁奥拍卖行表示，此次拍卖于上周三在巴黎举行，一位匿名的中国收藏家在经过一场激烈的拍卖大战之后拿下了该玉玺。

The palm-sized seal is made of red and white steatite, a type of mineral rock. It was one of hundreds owned by Emperor Qianlong, one of the longest serving Chinese emperors.

这块巴掌大的玉玺是由粉红色的玉石（一种矿物岩石）制成的。它是中国在位时间最长的皇帝乾隆的数千件遗物中的一件。

The seal features nine dragons which signify masculinity and the imperial authority.

这块玉玺上刻有九条龙，象征着阳刚之气和至高无上的权威。

The latest seal sold was originally acquired by a young French naval² doctor who visited China in the late 19th Century, and had remained in his family ever since, said Drouot said.

德鲁奥拍卖行称，在19世纪末，一位年轻的法国海军医生来到中国，得到了这块乾隆玉玺，自那以后就保存在自己的家中。

Asian art expert Alice Jossaume told AFP news agency it had been expected to sell for between 800,000 EUR and 1 million EUR.

亚洲艺术专家艾丽丝·玖松姆在接受《法新社》采访时表示，这块玉玺的预估价在80万欧元至100万欧元之间。

Emperor Qianlong, an avid³ art collector who ruled China for much of the 18th Century, was an artist himself who would use seals to sign his works.

乾隆皇帝是一位热切的艺术收藏家，他曾在18世纪的大部分时间里统治中国。同时他自己也是位艺术家，并会用印章为自己的作品署名。