Van Gogh, Other Spring Auction Stars to Tour

Three stars of Christie’s New York spring auction season will make a brief appearance Thursday, noon to 7 p.m., at the Beverly Hills Hotel.

Taking top billing is Vincent van Gogh’s 1890 “Portrait of Adeline Ravoux.” The painting of a 13-year-old girl in a brilliant blue dress is expected to bring “well in excess of” $15 million in Christie’s May 11 sale of Impressionist and modern paintings, according to auction house experts.

If the estimated price is accurate, the portrait will be the fourth most expensive artwork to sell at auction. The top three are all works by Van Gogh: “Irises” ($53.9 million), “Sunflowers” ($39.9 million) and “The Bridge at Trinquetaille” ($20 million). The owner of “Portrait of Adeline Ravoux” has not been identified.

Second in Christie’s lineup is a selection of jewels from the collection of the late Aga Khan III. Among treasures to be sold May 12 are a 33.13 carat, pear-shaped diamond valued at more than $1 million. Cartier designed an emerald tiara estimated to sell for at least $300,000, an Art Deco bracelet ($100,000-$150,000) and a pendant ($100,000-$150,000), also set with emeralds.

Proceeds from the jewelry sale will benefit the Bellerive Foundation in Geneva, which funds conservation and environmental projects in developing countries.

Third in estimated value ($15,000-$20,000) among the objects to be displayed--but first in the hearts of movie buffs--is a pair of ruby slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz.” They belong to Roberta Jeffries Bauman of Memphis, who won them in a contest to name the 10 best pictures of 1939.