The processes and activities involved in safe art storage and handling are quite nuanced and complex for laypersons. That’s why every beginner art collector needs to master the basics so that their art objects remain secure and intact to damage. Here, we discuss the golden rules that every person dealing with art should know by heart and follow without exceptions.
What Are the Main Principles of Art Storage and Handling?
As soon as you decide to connect your life with art, it’s important to understand the optimal conditions of its storage and the secure techniques of moving and handling precious art pieces.
Optimal Storage Guidelines
The first thing you need to take care of is the environmental control of your artwork storage. Most fine art survives the best when it’s kept at a temperature of 65-750F and a relative humidity of 40-50%. If your storage space can’t keep those stable conditions and experiences abrupt fluctuations in temperature and humidity, you need to set up a climate control system to protect your property.
The storage space should also be guarded from pests, which may become a real problem if your storage room is in a residential area. You may use pest traps or hire an integrated pest management (IPM) service provider to ensure comprehensive protection.
Safe Art Handling
Whenever you need to move the art object to another place, package it for shipment, or perform any other manipulations, you need to keep to the rules of secure art handling. They include handling an art object only with clean hands or in cotton gloves, using sufficient support tools when moving artwork, and avoiding contact with delicate surfaces.
Mounting and Framing Precautions
As soon as you prepare the artwork for hanging on the wall, you need to consider its glazing for the sake of protecting the pigments from fading and UV light damage. This can be done with the help of UV-protective glass or acrylic – both are good at protecting the canvas from light exposure.
Artwork Requires a Regular Commitment
As you can see, the process of art storage and handling is pretty demanding in terms of time, consistency, and regularity. Even if you do everything right, don’t forget to inspect your art objects and decide on the conservation measures they require. It often makes sense to turn to professional conservators to guarantee that your art preserves its intactness and market value.