Professional art storage is a space that requires specialized equipment and museum-grade materials. By means of using high-quality materials and devices, the facility may guarantee artwork preservation regardless of the duration of storage. If you’re planning to create such a storage space or choose a professional one for your art, here is a guide to devices, equipment, and protective materials to check out.
Key Art Storage Devices and Equipment
The proper choice of storage devices and equipment is vital for arranging a safe and accessible storage space. First, a storage facility should have flat file cabinets for storing paper artworks, such as unframed photographs, prints, and maps. Second, there should be painting racks, either sliding or stationary, for safe and convenient vertical storage of framed paintings. Third, a high-quality storage facility should offer archival shelving for boxed and wrapped artworks, sculptures, and other three-dimensional objects. You may also inquire about the availability of solander boxes and archival containers if you need individual storage for your art objects.
Archival-Quality Protective Materials
Regardless of the equipment and device choices of your chosen storage facility, all of them should be created with archival quality in mind. That’s why wrapping materials for artwork should be acid-free and non-adhesive. Instead of all-purpose wrapping materials, the storage service provider should use specialized materials made for art preservation during storage and shipping.
Some examples of quality materials to look for include acid-free tissue paper, professional cushioning materials like Ethafoam, and art plastic for fragile artwork encapsulation before putting it into the storage slot. The outer packing solutions should also be moisture- and puncture-resistant.
Specialized Supports and Mounts
The quality of supports is also crucial in the design of a specialized storage space. The custom-built storage trays and cradles should be made from acid-free corrugated board or foam core. T-handles and hanging systems are suitable for framed artwork suspension, and vertical bins with dividers will keep flat, framed artwork away from contact with each other.
Security and Quality Are Key in Storage Setup
As you can see, the quality of materials, devices, and equipment used in the setup of art storage plays a key role in its safety for all types of stored art objects. These aspects make a real difference to the intactness of your art property and its preservation. Make sure to check these points with the storage provider you’re planning to work with.