If you have a piece of artwork to be shipped a great distance, you may be worried about how it will arrive at its destination safely. There are a lot of things to consider before packaging your piece of art.

Shipping Containers

There are many different options available to you when deciding how to ship your artwork. Standard boxes and  custom built crates can be used for pieces of typical size and shape, or custom designed pallets and platforms can be created to fit one-of-a-kind pieces. For instance, when shipping a piece internationally, different wood is required in crate construction than is necessary from domestic shipping as there are guidelines in place to regulate importation of natural products.

Packing Artwork Safely

Additionally, you will want to protect the surface of paintings when they are being shipped. To do so, it is important to construct a crate. The Conservation Center recommends having a custom-designed crate built for transporting pieces of high value. When you’re shipping artwork, it is important to ensure you’ve packed it perfectly to avoid any damage or destruction to the piece and also to maintain the integrity of the frame. When deciding how to package a piece, you need to choose a method based on the type of artwork you’re sending. Often, pastel paintings are shipped in crates with legs to help preserve the delicate nature of the piece, while oil paintings are shipped in custom crates which do not require legs. Large sculptures need a custom-designed crate or custom built platform to keep the piece from being damaged while it is being moved from place to place.

Artwork can be loaded into custom built boxes that have one inch of Styrofoam on each side to protect the artwork during shipping.

We Can Help

If you are in need of a custom crate for your high-value piece of artwork, please contact us for more information. We have extensive experience shipping artwork to galleries around the world and would love to help you keep your art pieces secure while they are being moved.