Shipping art overseas or receiving it from abroad may look like a challenging task, especially for newbies. Here, we cover the main aspects of planning your overseas shipping logistics, from international art transport to packing and customs arrangements.

What International Art Transport Option to Choose?

As soon as you start planning an overseas trip for your art objects, transportation emerges as the first point of concern. The way you ship your art pieces affects many aspects of their journey, such as the conditions in which they will be held in transit, the duration of shipping, and the final cost. So, it makes sense to consider all shipping options before making the final decision.

When you ship art to neighboring countries, you can opt for the land transportation mode, using well-equipped art shuttles to get your objects delivered to their destination point. If your target location is on another continent, air or sea transportation is your way to go. Air shipping is fast and safe, but shipping rates depend on the art object’s size and weight. Sea shipping is usually cheaper, and it’s far more suitable for large, heavyweight objects.

Other Things to Keep in Mind

Besides transportation modes, you should take proper care of the following.

• Thorough packaging for the art object’s full intactness in transit. Custom wooden crates are the best option, especially for fragile and valuable items.
• Insurance coverage. You will need to partner with an insurance company that offers insurance plans for overseas transportation. The process of insuring an art object in transit is usually more meticulous than the one for regular shipments.
• Documentation for customs. Art objects that cross state borders should be accompanied by a complete documentation package, including the commercial invoice. You should also inquire about all relevant duties and taxes to understand whether the target location has tax exemptions for art imports.

Don’t forget that overseas shipping involves many more risks and is out of your control most of the time. Thus, it’s imperative to plan and execute everything correctly. If you’re not sure about your competence in all these matters, it makes sense to partner with a professional art logistics company.

Fine Art Shippers can organize an international art transport process with due care for your art object’s safety in transit. From packaging to export documentation to booking a flight, we offer a full set of specialized services for the transportation of fine art and antiques. Contact us today for details.