Crating Artwork for Shipping: A Step-by-Step Guide for Art Owners

Crating Artwork for Shipping

Custom wooden crates are widely known as the greatest level of artwork protection in transit. They are needed for cross-border shipments and are also commonly used for extra-value or very old and vulnerable art objects. Thus, as soon as you plan to ship your art internationally or need to have a highly valuable artwork transported from one place to another, you will need to master the art of crating artwork for shipping. It’s not necessary to do the job on your own. Yet, understanding what it entails will help you find a reliable service provider.

What Are the Steps of Crating Artwork for Shipping?

Here is a quick breakdown of the crating procedure for art objects.

Artwork Assessment

The initial stage of artwork crating is the assessment of the art object that will travel in that crate. Art handlers will measure the artwork to record its height, width, and depth. It is also important to measure the art object’s weight to choose the appropriate packing and crating materials ready to withstand it. Additional assessments involve the evaluation of artwork fragility, the materials of which it is made, and any individual shipping needs or requirements it comes with.

Crate Design

Once the scope of work is understood, art handlers proceed to build the crate for your art object. We at Fine Art Shippers use high-quality plywood and wood with sufficient thickness for crating. The crate’s base is constructed first, and the walls are further attached to it. The structure’s corners are also reinforced to make the crate stable and avoid damage. The final stage of crating is the addition of upper and bottom panels, which are fastened with crews and bolts for easy management.

Artwork Crating

The final stage is the artwork’s crating. Once the crate is ready, the preliminarily packaged artwork is placed into it, with extra padding and cushioning materials added to prevent shifting. Now, the crate is ready for sealing and labeling.

Fine Art Shippers Can Crate Your Art Object for a Safe Trip

Interested in crating artwork for shipping professionally? Welcome to Fine Art Shippers! Our professional art handlers can build a custom wooden crate specifically for your art object’s dimensions. All work is done in our workshop to guarantee the ultimate security of your belongings and their thorough preparation for a long trip. However, we also provide onsite crating services if needed.