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Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr asked Christie's auction house to come in and appraise the city-owned collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Orr acknowledged on Monday. That appraisal made art news headlines for weeks after Detroit filed for bankruptcy, so the news today solves something of a mystery as to why the auction house came to the city in the first place. But its doubtful that very many people are heartened by it.

Orr will pay Christie's $200,000 to appraise the work at the behest of creditors, which may or may not result in a sale. The appraisal began in June and should be done by October. Detroit is currently $18 billion in debt, including to city pensioners. The world-class DIA art collection is estimated to be worth billions, as the Detroit Free Press explains:

Nearly 40 of the museum’s most important works carry an estimated value of $2.5 billion, according to experts consulted by the Free Press. Paintings by Van Gogh, Matisse, Bruegel and others carried individual estimates of $50 million to $100 million or more.

Orr defended the move by downplaying the significance of the DIA collection itself in his wider bankruptcy plans, adding that "There has never been, nor is there now, any plan to sell art. This valuation, as well as the valuation of other city assets, is an integral part of the restructuring process." But the Detroit News explains that the city's creditors have previously asked about the collection specifically after facing the prospect of getting 10 cents on the dollar back of what the city owes. So it might be hard to convince them to stay away from DIA. While the creditors themselves don't get to force the handover of city assets, the Free Press explains, the bankruptcy judge in the case can refuse to accept a deal if he thinks it's hiding some assets.