In the industry of professional fine art shipping, custom wooden crates are regarded as the highest level of security for the transportation of delicate, fragile objects. Indeed, they are durable and sturdy, preventing any kind of damage from external impact, falls, or fluctuations in environmental conditions. Yet, some skeptics believe that investments in quality shipping crates for paintings are not reasonable, as crates are more suitable for three-dimensional, fragile sculptures and antiques.
When Do You Need to Use Shipping Crates for Paintings?
Shipping industry standards suggest that crates are used in the shipment of valuable, fragile, old, and expensive paintings. For instance, the transportation of da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or the shipment of a rare van Gogh painting will hardly be arranged without a solid crate. The same goes for paintings with degrading canvases or a cracking paint layer, which may make it more vulnerable to environmental impact. Crates are also often included in the standard insurance requirements for the international transportation of art, so you should consider this option when planning an overseas shipment. Besides, you will want a custom crate for your painting if you ship it by a regular carrier.
When Are Crates Not Necessary?
If you work with a professional art shipper and need to transport a painting locally or across the country, soft packing may be enough. You can wrap the painting in glassine paper, archival tissue paper, or special art plastic to cover its surface and prevent the canvas from contact with other packing materials. After the first layer comes the padding layer, which may be created with the help of bubble wrap or kraft bubble.
Once you cover the painting with several soft layers for proper cushioning, it’s time to put it into a sturdy cardboard box. Make sure to fill the empty space in the box with extra cushioning so that the object doesn’t shift inside during movement. Even without a crate, your fine art piece is sure to travel safely if you find reliable shippers who use well-equipped art shuttles and trained art handlers for artwork transportation.
How to Make Crates More Affordable?
As you can see, shipping crates for paintings are not always a must, but in some cases, they can make a real difference in the degree of your art object’s safety. The good news is that you can make crating less costly in the long run by opting for a reusable crate with customizable internal contents. This approach is more sustainable in terms of the crate’s universal use and repair while still preserving the ability to customize its interior to the unique dimensions and size of your art object. Contact Fine Art Shippers for a quality reusable crate for your beloved painting.