If you’re an art connoisseur, chances are you’ve spent quite a bit of hard-earned money on your decorative investments. Years are spent collecting fine art, outbidding competition, and finding the right pieces for your home and now it’s time to move it into a new personal galleria.
Packing and transporting fine art is an art within itself and the care an artist takes to craft their masterpiece is the same care that must be taken to ensure its safety during any move.
From large canvas oils to handcrafted porcelain vases, and small copperworks to delicate crystal designs, art comes in all shapes and sizes. The care that must be taken with these pieces may range from protecting the fragile to accommodating the giants and we’ve got some tips to get you back to enjoying your collection quickly and without any heartbreak.
For the Fragile
Delicate pieces of artwork present some of the biggest challenges during a move. Their incredible delicate nature and potential for damage is unrivaled, add to that the price tag usually associated with them and the stress level can be through the roof.
The old saying of “the right key for the right door” applies here. That adage basically boils down to saying you shouldn’t use an antique skeleton keep the size of your forearm to open a shed door. When packing valuable, fragile pieces of art, you shouldn’t grab the cheapest materials to do so either. The quality of packing material should match what it’s being used to protect. Do your research and find trusted, high quality supplies like moldable Styrofoam, corrugated cardboard, high density packing peanuts and durable bubble wrap.
Overkill
When it comes to expensive, fine art, there’s no such thing as overkill. Wrap fragile pieces in excessive amounts of bubble wrap before placing it inside a Styrofoam or corrugated cardboard container. Fill any voids with more bubble wrap or copious amounts of packing paper and tape everything shut. If you’re not comfortable dropping the box you placed it in, you didn’t use enough.
For the Canvas
The most typical damage incurred by any painting or other canvas work is a tear. Tears are nearly impossible to repair to original condition and will devalue the piece considerably. Valuable canvas pieces should be placed in a wooden box, built specifically for the size of the artwork. The crate should have nearly no room between the frame and the wood. Before being sealed inside of the crate, the canvas and the frame should be wrapped extensively in shrink wrap and the corners padded with Styrofoam to prevent scratches and breaks.
Separate Shipping
While you, or your professional moving company are likely well equipped for transporting these pieces, it’s worth the investment to hire an outside shipping or courier service that specializes in the transport of value or fine art. These people are experts at this and have the experience to get your prized possessions to your new home without incident.
Valuable possessions deserve your utmost attention and the best resources you can provide. When someone says “it’s priceless”, that’s because no amount of money can replace it. So being frugal and cutting corners when it comes to packing these items correctly shouldn’t even be a thought. Attention to detail and careful planning are the keys to transporting anything of value and by using our tips above, we’re pretty confident that your fine art will make it to it’s new home safe and sound.