Delivery of art is a delicate task that requires careful planning and expert execution. Artworks are always thoroughly prepared for transportation, with adequate packaging and professional handling minimizing the risk of damage. However, some risks may emerge during the process, and knowing them can help secure your art from harm.

Physical Damage in Transit

Any artwork is sensitive to impact or vibration. That’s why poor handling or inadequate art cushioning can result in serious troubles. Artwork may sustain cracks, dents, tears, or frame damage if its handling rules are violated or it is carelessly treated during loading and unloading.

Improper Packaging

Professional packaging makes a real difference when it comes to securing art in transit. There are extensive professional recommendations for material selection and layering of protective materials so that the result is sufficient for keeping art safe. Archival-quality materials, zero presence of acids in their contents, and sufficient internal supports prevent deformation or abrasion of art. This way, every artwork needs to be packaged in line with its unique characteristics and needs.

Environmental Fluctuations

Temperature and humidity are the two most dangerous external effects that can severely damage artwork if left uncontrolled. Paints quickly expand or contract under the influence of these fluctuations, and wood panels warp as a result of poor environmental conditions. Paper-based works are also highly sensitive to these forces, with rippling and mold as two of the most common effects of climate control violations.

Theft or Loss

Art is valuable not only in cultural terms but also as a financial asset. Some art objects, no matter how small in size, may reach several million dollars in price. For this reason, valuable artworks often become targets of thieves or vandals. Organized criminals specializing in art, internal thieves, and simple loss due to human carelessness can be serious risk factors. That’s why you can’t take the risk of insecure transport routing or using regular trucks without GPS trackers.

Mishandling

Art needs to be handled carefully and professionally, so a team of trained art handlers is a must for safe art delivery. At Fine Art Shippers, we employ only experienced art handlers with impressive credentials to bring this risk to a minimum, and you should also always check the transportation team’s expertise to avoid the risk of mishandling.

Always Plan the Delivery of Art with These Risks in Mind

Delivery of art is always a high-stakes process that doesn’t tolerate mistakes. It should be performed with thorough logistics planning, conservation practices put in place, and reliance on professionals. Every step comes with unique risks, and their prevention requires specialized expertise and attention to detail. Detailed documentation of all transportation stages also adds safety to the process.