No one wants his or her antique furniture to be ruined during the move. Unfortunately, many people simply forget that even though it looks durable and seems strong, in fact, even a single wrong step can cause severe furniture damage or greatly diminish its value. If you do not want this to happen, you need to hire a professional art moving company experienced in shipping heavy yet fragile items. At Fine Art Shippers, we can ship antique furniture safely and securely to any destination, no matter its weight and size. Moreover, we can provide you with all the required art packing and crating services intended to protect even the most delicate pieces in transit. However, if you want your antique furniture to last for years, ensuring its safe transportation is not enough. In fact, there are many ways you can ruin antiques, without even realizing it. So what are they and how to protect your belongings before and after the move?
1. Improper storage
Improper storage is the most common way to ruin antique furniture. So if you need to store it for some time, forget about your basement, attic, and garage. Instead, choose an art storage facility built specifically to protect valuables and antiques.
2. Non-professional restoration
Even though restoring your antique furniture might seem a good idea, in many cases, it is not. Thereby, it is of utmost importance to consult a professional before making such a decision. Besides, never entrust this job to amateur restorers.
3. Direct sunlight
Do not forget that all antique and vintage pieces are vulnerable to damage from direct sunlight. So even if your china cabinet looks perfect next to a window, it is better to place it somewhere else.
4. Refinishing
Just like with restoration, refinishing antique furniture is not always a good idea. In fact, it is the best way to diminish its value, so consult a professional restorer first.
5. Improper cleaning
Do not try to make your antique furniture look like new. Instead, if it has a beautiful patina, you need to preserve it. After all, it can increase the value of your belongings. However, it does not mean that you should never clean your furniture. You simply need to do it wisely.
In this way, while professional art movers can help you ship antique furniture safely and securely, there are a lot of other important things to consider if you want to protect your precious possessions. Contact our team in case you need any consultation or advice!