The Appraisal of Pacific Tribal Art

Pacific tribal art now commands high sums in auctions, though it may have been sold cheaply thirty years ago. Polynesian wood sculpture from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries is particularly valuable. Even considering monetary inflation, this art has increased enormously in value. Difficulties of appraisal include exotic origins, art without dates or signatures and foreign purposes for the objects. The appraiser must be prepared to do anthropological research which may entail museum documentation. The standards of the American Society of Appraisers apply to this area as well as personal property generally. Pacific tribal art has two kinds of value: subjective, including ethno-scientific, cultural and aesthetic value, and fair market considerations; there is also replacement value. Oceania refers to Pacific islands east of Australia in the tropics and subtropics. The development of cultures in that area and their belief in the supernatural is divided into three parts: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Oceanic Art has four periods: Archaic, Classic, European Contact and Tourist.