Some packaging for art is needed for a relatively short term, when the piece is being moved from one location to another. In some cases, however, you will need to perform archival art packaging. It is necessary for long-term storage or archiving of collections that are currently not on display in museums and private settings. Here is a guide to this packaging type, with practical tips on packaging material selection for artists, collectors, and collection managers.
How Does Archival Art Packaging Differ from Regular Packaging?
The word ‘archival’ here means that the packaged artwork will be sent to an archive or a storage facility, where it will spend some time before being displayed or moved to a new location. Due to the higher longevity needs, packaging should be of museum-grade level, specifically designed to resist quick degradation and prevent chemical reactions with the art object. It’s vital to keep in mind that archived art can spend decades in storage, so the packaging material should neutralize environmental acids to extend the art object’s life.
Must-Use Archival Packaging Materials
Since archival art packaging is meant for long-term preservation and protection of the item, the quality of materials should be premium. Here are some tips for choosing packing materials that will endure the impact of light, humidity, and temperature without causing the art object’s premature degradation.
- Acid-free tissue paper. This type of paper is typically produced from buffered or unbuffered cellulose fibers that don’t contain acidic compounds. Archival-quality tissue paper is acid-free, non-adhesive, and durable enough to protect the artwork from external impacts. Its chemical stability and breathability are the main reasons for its popularity as an art packaging material.
- Museum-grade boxes. Once the artwork is wrapped in acid-free, non-adhesive protective materials and properly cushioned, it is typically placed inside corrugated board or solid fiberboard boxes. Long-term storage boxes may also be buffered, thus receiving additional acid-neutralizing capacity.
Importance of Choosing the Right Materials
Archival-quality materials may differ from traditional packing materials in terms of their durability. Professionals like Fine Art Shippers typically apply museum-grade materials for all kinds of shipping and storage needs, both short-term and long-term, but you may need to double-check the materials’ grade when preparing your collection for archiving yourself. Review the standards of authoritative institutions, such as the Library of Congress or a local museum, to see what packing materials they use in their archival work. Follow their recommendations or hire professional art handlers to provide your object with sufficient protection throughout the entire period of archival storage.