Safe Travels: Essential Guide to Protecting Art & Collectibles During Moving

Artwork Relocation Precautions: The First Step Toward Safety

Moving art and collectibles starts long before the truck arrives. The tighter your prep, the lower your risk.

1) Pre-Move Assessment and Plan

• Route and timeline. Account for season, traffic, elevator access, and loading windows.
• Risk audit. Weight, size, fragile elements (glass, frames, protrusions), prior restorations.
• Clear ownership. Assign one coordinator so decisions and checklists don’t get diluted.

2) Prioritize Packing

Great packing is your safety net. Use purpose-built materials and layered protection:

• Contact layer: acid-free tissue, glassine, or Tyvek for canvases, works on paper, and photographs.
• Cushioning: bubble wrap only over a nonreactive layer; EPE/EPS foam; corner protectors for frames.
• Rigid shell: double-walled cartons, honeycomb panels, or custom wood crates with shaped foam.
• Sculpture: multi-point support, soft-padded straps, zero free play.
• Ceramics/glass: one piece per box; fill voids fully; never let “glass touch glass.”

If you want white-glove packing and unpacking, consider an expert packing service.

3) Document Your Collection

Documentation is your safety cushion if something goes wrong.

• Inventory: unique ID, dimensions, medium, year, valuation/appraisal.
• Photography: overall and close-ups of corners, edges, glazing, backs, labels.
• Condition report: note wear, scratches, craquelure, loose joins, surface dirt.
• Digital control: spreadsheet + QR/barcodes on crates for tracking.

4) Bring in Professionals

Fine-art handling is a specialty. Pro movers can provide:

• custom crates,
• climate-controlled vehicles,
• rigging/lifts/piano straps,
• GPS tracking and tamper seals,
• insurance and a documented chain of custody. When choosing a moving company, review case studies, call references, and confirm fine-art experience and insurance options.

Safely Transporting Collectibles: A Journey of Care

5) Temperature and Humidity Control

Rapid swings damage wood, canvas, varnish, and paper.

• Temperature: typically 18–22 °C (64–72 °F).
• Relative humidity: stable at 45–55% RH.
• Tools: data loggers, desiccant packs, humidity indicator cards inside crates.
• Acclimation: let crates sit 24–48 hours at the destination before opening.

6) Shock and Vibration Protection

• Maintain at least 5–7 cm (2–3 in) of cushioning on all sides inside containers.
• Use “floating” mounts (object attached to an inner platform that is then cushioned in the crate).
• Apply shock/tilt indicators (ShockWatch/TiltWatch) to detect mishandling.

7) Labeling and Loading

• Labels: FRAGILE, THIS SIDE UP, GLASS, orientation arrows; large inventory ID.
• Stacking plan: heavy on the bottom, light on top, no overhangs; strap crates to anchor points; never press items against doors.
• PPE: nitrile gloves; clean padded surfaces for staging.

8) Vehicle and Site Readiness

• Choose vehicles with independent HVAC, level floors, tie-down points, non-slip surfaces.
• Confirm loading docks, lift access, permits for curbside stops, and clear paths at both ends.

Valuables Protection During Transit: Insurance and Control

9) Insurance

• Carrier’s basic liability is rarely enough.
• Declared/Full value coverage: policy pegged to the item’s value; keep deductibles low.
• Fine-art policies: cover storage, transit, and installation; scrutinize exclusions (inherent vice, temperature, improper packing, acts of God). Store policies, receipts, inventory, and photos in the cloud and offline.

10) Supervise Loading and Unloading

• Be present or appoint an empowered agent.
• Match crate IDs to the inventory; check seals and indicator status.
• Maintain a chain of custody at each handoff: who transferred, who received, date/time, crate condition.

11) Emergency Contacts and Plan B

• Contacts: dispatcher, insurance broker, site manager, security, local services.
• Alternate routes and backup unload locations for closures or elevator failures.
• A “first-response” stabilization kit: acid-free tissue, soft brushes, tweezers, photo log—only for temporary stabilization, not repairs.

Special Handling Notes by Object Type

• Paintings on canvas: no plastic pressed directly on varnish; use corner protectors; glazing usually unnecessary.
• Works on paper/photographs: interleave with acid-free sheets; use rigid portfolios for flat transport.
• Framed works with glass: apply cross-hatched tape to the glass (to contain shards); keep strictly vertical.
• Sculpture/bronze: mark center of gravity; strap only to stable bases or unpainted areas.
• Ceramics/porcelain: avoid point loads; support handles/spouts indirectly; fill voids without pressure.

Arrival and Installation

12) Acclimatization and Unpacking

• Keep crates closed in the destination room for at least 24 hours (longer in extreme seasons).
• Unpack on clean, padded surfaces with blunt tools only.
• Remove layers in order while filming/photographing; compare condition to the departure report.

13) Mounting and Storage

• Use hardware rated for the wall type and weight (anchors, French cleats, safety cables).
• Monitor room RH/temperature; avoid direct sun, radiators, and AC vents.
• For temporary storage: padded shelving, 80 cm (32 in) aisles, dedicated “outbound” zones.

Art relocation is a sequence of precise moves: planning, packing, documentation, climate control, insurance, and supervision at every step. Follow these practices and you dramatically reduce risk—and increase the odds your collection arrives exactly as it left. If you want a fully managed experience, hire specialized fine-art professionals. The cost is small compared to the value they protect.