Art crating services rarely boil down to crate manufacturing and artwork’s enclosure into it. The process of crate design and artwork handling is subject to rigorous industry standards and excellence criteria. One of them is documentation, which guarantees transparency and traceability for each step of artwork management.

What Documents Do Providers of Art Crating Services Use?

Documentation is an important part of the crating process. Apart from compliance with the crate manufacturing algorithm, the service provider should follow artwork handling standards and safety requirements. The following three documents usually verify adequate service quality and secure the company’s interests in case of artwork damage during transportation.

Condition Report

A condition report usually includes photographs of the item before it is packed, photographs of the packed item, and unpacking guidance with instructions for the receiving party if needed. It can also contain identifying data about the object, orientation and handling notes, and condition observations.

Crate Photographs

Art is being shipped not in generic boxes but in custom wooden crates that are usually built to be reused. Such crates are designed to meet the unique dimensions and shipping requirements of a specific item, often with handling and access information supporting the shipment. Photos of the crate are provided to the client, with external and internal views and close-ups when needed.

Packing Report

The method of art packing makes a big difference in the crating process. That’s why, sometimes, companies provide a so-called packing report as evidence of the packing strategy’s compliance with the type, dimensions, and individual risk profile of an art object being shipped. The document typically covers a packing sequence, with a summary of packing layers and a list of materials used. Top-tier service providers also develop customized environmental strategies and give an unpacking and repacking guide for other participants of the fine art logistics process.

This way, by choosing providers of art crating services with established documentation protocols, you enjoy unrivaled transparency of the entire process. This is what distinguishes an excellent art shipping company from a mediocre one.