How much are antique kava bowls worth?

Antique kava bowl prices range from a few hundred euro to more than €20,000 for rare ceremonial pieces. Value comes from age, size, wood type, condition, and cultural history, a simple tourist bowl from the 1980s may sell for €80 to €200. A 19th-century Fijian tanoa with deep patina and hand-carved details can reach far higher figures. Auction houses in Paris, New York, and Sydney sold several museum-grade bowls above €10,000 during recent years and one large Tongan bowl from the 1800s reached nearly US$30,000 at a tribal art sale in 2017. Collectors study the underside of the bowl for old tool marks, smoke darkening, and signs of long ceremonial use. Cracks lower prices, yet many buyers accept small repairs on very old pieces. Hardwoods such as vesi and ifilele attract strong interest among Pacific art dealers. Provenance matters too, a bowl linked with a chief, missionary collection, or royal family often receives stronger bids.