DETROIT (AP) — The fair market values of some of the mostpopular pieces in the Detroit Institute
of Arts — including Bruegel theElder’s "The Wedding Dance" and a Van Gogh self-portrait — have
beenreleased.Christie’s auction house appraised about 2,800paintings, sculptures, pottery and other
city-owned artwork at thecity’s request. The list of the items and how much each would fetch atsale were
released Thursday by the city."The Wedding Dance" isvalued at $100 million to $200 million, while
Van Gogh’s "Self Portraitwith Straw Hat" was given a price tag of between $80 million and
$150million.State-appointed emergency manager Kevyn Orr hiredChristie’s to do the work. Orr has said
city-owned art in the museum canbe considered an asset and could be vulnerable during a bankruptcy. Hefiled
for bankruptcy in July, and federal Judge Steven Rhodes approvedthe petition Dec. 3.The high values of some
of Detroit’s piecesare not surprising, said Charles Guerin, director of the Hyde Collectionin Glen Falls,
New York."The art market has become a place toinvest large sums of money," Guerin said. "Art
is a commodity,especially when you get into those numbers. It’s amazing somebody wouldeven have $150 million
to spend. There are a lot of wealthy people inthe world who can look at $150 million as if it’s chump
change."Accordingto the appraisal by New York-based Christie’s, the city-owned pieces atthe Detroit
Institute of Arts are collectively worth between $454million to $867 million. They represent about five
percent of themuseum’s estimated 66,000-work collection.Orr has said the city’sdebt is at least $18 billion.
That includes $5.7 billion in unfundedhealth care obligations and $3.5 billion in unfunded
pensionliabilities. He is expected to present a plan of adjustment for fiscalrestructuring to the bankruptcy
court in early January that will includehis recommendations for the art.Guerin cautioned against selling any
of the art, saying it would be "short-sighted.""Detroit is a great city. One of the things
that make it a great city is that it has an absolutely great museum," he said.Here are some of the
highlights of the appraisal:— "The Wedding Dance," Pieter Bruegel I, $100 million-$200 million.—
"Self Portrait with Straw Hat," Vincent Van Gogh, $80 million-$150 million.— "The
Visitation," Rembrandt Harmensz. Van Rijn, $50 million-$90 million.— "Le guéridon," Henri
Matisse, $40 million-$80 million.— "Gladioli," Claude Monet, $12 million-$20 million.— "The
Palla Altarpiece: Tobias and Three Archangels," Neri Di Bicci, $8 million-$15 million.— "Portrait
of Hendrik Swalmius," Frans Hals, $6 million-$10 million.— "Madonna and Child," Giovanni
Bellini and Workshop, $4 million-$10 million.— "Saint Jerome in His Study," Workshop of Jan Van
Eyck, $4 million-$8 million.— "A dead hare with flowers and onions on a ledge," Jean-Simeon
Chardin, $5 million-$7 million.Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rightsreserved. This material may
not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.