How to Ship Antiques Safely? Tips and Guidelines for Collectors

How to Ship Antiques Safely

Antique furniture, kitchenware, textiles, ceramics, and other works of art are extremely fragile and delicate objects. They are old and vulnerable to external impact, so in most cases, they are stored in specific conditions. That’s why you need to hire a properly trained team of art handlers when you ship antiques. Only by working with experts can you ensure the safety and intactness of your fragile items. Here is the how-to guide on planning the antique shipping project.

How to Ship Antiques Correctly?

Safe antique shipping is impossible without thorough preparation for the actual stage of moving these objects from one place to another. You need to follow these points to ensure everything goes smoothly and safely for your property.

Professional Packaging

Antique furniture, old frames, and sculptures have highly sensitive surfaces, as their pigments and covers may already be cracking or fading out. That’s why it’s so critical to protect the surfaces from possible damage or scratches and use non-adhesive, acid-free materials in the packaging process. The industry standard is to use archival tissue paper, glassine paper, art plastic, and soft foam, additionally cushioned with bubble wrap to package antique art objects. The wrapping should be properly sealed on all sides with painter’s tape to protect the object from physical impact and dust.

Crating

If you have antique sculptures or other three-dimensional objects, crating may be necessary to ensure their safe shipping. At Fine Art Shippers, we assess the object’s condition and the complexity of the shipping route to determine which type of crate is needed. It may be a custom wooden crate or a lighter T-frame that will save you time and money.

Climate-Controlled Shipping

When you ship antiques, the preservation of stable environmental conditions is a must. These objects are more vulnerable to changes in the external environment, so they can degrade pretty quickly when exposed to temperature or humidity fluctuations. To prevent these risks, you should inquire from your antique shipper whether they have climate-controlled shipping vehicles and opt only for specialized art shuttles.

Let Fine Art Shippers Help You with Antique Shipping

If you’re facing the need to ship antiques, either locally or internationally, it’s time to find the best provider of fine art shipping services. By turning to Fine Art Shippers, you get access to almost three decades of flawless performance and in-depth expertise in antique handling, packaging, and shipping. Contact us to find out more about this service and move your valuable belongings safely to preserve this cultural heritage for future generations.