There are a lot of details to be considered when shipping fine art. The distance of the journey, the measurements of the artwork, and the special conditions unique to every artwork — a professional art shipper keeps all of those things in mind to ensure that the client is fully satisfied with their work. One of the biggest concerns when shipping something as fragile and prone to damage as a fine painting is the packaging. Let’s talk about one specific type of commonly used packaging — a painting crate — and how to choose the one that is right for you.
Why choose a painting crate?
There are different ways how you can pack a painting for shipping. If you are simply transporting a small piece of art in your car, you don’t need much, as proper soft packing is usually enough. However, when considering long-distance transportation, you must keep a number of things in mind. For example, think about temperature control. Prolonged exposure to heat or humidity can be catastrophic for a painting.
Any artwork also needs to be secured in place and should have some type of protection layer before being moved. This is when a painting crate comes in handy. Many of the crates that are used by professionals are built specifically to keep out moisture and excessive heat. A painting crate will also prevent the artwork from moving around during transportation. Moreover, the rigid structure of the outside of the crate and the soft inside layer will protect the painting from any external pressure.
Something like a durable cardboard box might be suitable for the transportation of smaller and lighter pieces. However, if you are looking to move a large, heavy, or expensive painting, a sturdy wooden crate is the safest option.
Where to get a painting crate?
While a wooden crate is something you can build by yourself if needed, it is more efficient to ask professional craters for help. The fact is that building some types of crates at home, for example, museum crates for international shipping, is not everyone can do because even the slightest miscalculation in the construction of the crate might result in mishaps during transit.
Fine Art Shippers has extended experience in packing and shipping all types of art and antiques. We also provide expertly made custom crates for paintings of all sizes. You can rest assured we will approach the transportation of your precious goods with utmost care and diligence.