3 Tips For Shipping Works of Art

by Cormac Reynolds
whistl.co.uk 

Your art or any art is important and more often than not also delicate. So, how do you best serve your interests and ensure its safe in transit – here are some golden tips.

Pack the Art Work Correctly

Make sure everything is secured and well protected to ensure it does not get damaged whilst in transit. This may mean taking extra time to do the packing because you want to be as careful as possible in order to keep the art safe.

We recently packed some valuable painting that was going to be shipped to Nigeria. We covered the glass with 2-inch masking tape. The masking tape is used to keep the art from being damaged if the glass breaks during transit. If the glass is broken, it will stick to the tape, instead of cutting the painting.

Then, we cut a sheet of polystyrene to cover the taped glass. Then, we used small bubble wrap to wrap the art both ways. A larger bubble wrap was used for further protection. Most carriers request 2-inches or 6 cm of cushioning around an object to provide protection. If you use less, the carrier may not uphold your insurance claim if the item is damaged.

We make sure all sides are cushioned in order to protect the frame. You can also use frame protectors, which would be well worth the cost if the frame is large.

After the picture is wrapped, we slid it into a dedicated art box. The lid of the box slides down to the bottom of the box, so you have a double wall of protection. When you put the art in the box, you have to ensure it is snugly fit. You don’t want the art moving around in the box because that can cause damage.

The Outside Packaging Needs to Be High-Quality

Ensure you properly mark and label all of the items, so that the people who handle the packages know that they contain valuable items. You also need to make sure the exterior packaging is of high-quality.

You don’t want your treasure to arrive and the packaging is in tatters. Even if the artwork is in perfect condition, you want the exterior packaging to reflect the value of the piece inside.

Find a Shipping Method That is Good and Affordable

Shipping art does not have to come with a high price tag and there are many quality vendors such as Whistl that can send it for an affordable price. If you’re an art dealer you don’t want the price of shipping your art pieces to take all of your profits. You want to make sure your items are safe and handled properly but you want to pay a fair and reasonable rate.

If you’re shipping your artwork abroad, you also have to ensure all of the paperwork is complete. You’ll need customer’s declaration documents and you may be liable for import taxes in the country the item is being shipped to. These are all things you should consider when looking for a shipping method.

Keep these three golden rules in mind and you won’t go wrong. However, you must remember to choose a carrier that has a good reputation for handling the packages that pass through their hands. When it comes to protecting your works of art, you want to make sure they are safe from the time they leave your hands to the time they get to your customer.