Anyone who has ever traveled abroad knows that it is not the same as traveling domestically. The same is true for shipping paintings. Fine art pieces also require some kind of visa, insurance, and even special “clothing.” In this article, we will go into detail about what you should remember when it comes to moving paintings overseas.
Things to Consider Before Shipping Paintings Internationally
1. By sea or by air?
When you ship your paintings from the United States to another country, there are usually two options: by plane or by ship. Air shipping is always faster than ocean shipping, but at the same time, it is more expensive. If you have the time and don’t want to invest too much money, the most appropriate way to ship your paintings will be by sea. However, this will work only if you ship a large collection or some really large artworks. If it comes to shipping a single painting or several small- or medium-sized paintings, the best and most cost-effective option will still be to ship them by air.
2. How to pack?
When shipping paintings abroad, professional art handlers always recommend using wooden crates. They protect the artwork during long journeys in the luggage department much better than soft packaging. Crates also provide a more or less constant temperature and humidity inside, which directly affects the safety of the item being transported. It’s always a good idea to hire a fine art shipping company for, at least, building a custom crate for your painting since DIY crating may result in damage to the artwork.
3. What about the documents?
Proper preparation of documents is always a must, regardless of the value of the painting you are shipping. You should consider the customs and border regulations in both your country and the country of final destination. Besides, it is always recommended that you contact a local broker in the destination country in advance to make sure the import customs clearance process will be as smooth as possible.
Finally, we would like to emphasize that hiring a trustworthy fine art shipping company is key to success. Fine Art Shippers is always here to help with shipping paintings both internationally and domestically, so do not hesitate to contact our team.