The big day is around the corner, and chills are running through your spine. You’re excited about starting a new chapter of your life abroad, but there’s still the elephant in the room that you need to take care of. Every person with a passion for art understands you – no one wants to move and risk damaging a Van Gogh. A piece of fine art on a plane traveling above the ocean doesn’t seem like an idea you’ll be comfortable with. That’s why we came up with this stress-free guide to transporting your art collection internationally.
Preparation is the key
If you want to ensure that your precious art piece arrives at the new spot safely and sound, you must put some effort into the preparation process. First, you need to evaluate all the transportation requirements. It’s essential to think about how you’ll send your artwork before you start packing. Keep in mind that there are usually specific criteria for completing any given piece of art. Crucial factors that will determine the course of action are:
- the size of the artwork in question
- the materials
- how fragile it is
Another important thing to consider is the laws and regulations of the country you’re going to. A lot of people forget about this step and end up in an unpleasant situation because of it. Some things are not allowed to bring into certain countries. On the other hand, there’s a handful of rules that regulate some steps of the way, like packing fragile items in order for them to be safe on their own and for everyone around it.
International affairs are different than the local ones
The packing may go through many more hands when sending a package across the country than when sending it across town. However, there is a different problem with outsourcing work to other countries. You can’t really carry art in your hand if you want to transport it around the globe. But, will some materials fall apart if you take the art pieces via plane? Will radiation damage something, or will a simple change of conditions in the air be damaging?
Sometimes, the best option when transporting your art collection internationally is to put your artwork into storage and take another transportation route. Make sure to ask storage professionals how to store art pieces to put them away safely until you reach your destination. Some artwork is so fragile that you need to take extra precautions to do that.
The exterior conditions are crucial for the preservation
The best and most valuable art pieces are pretty susceptible to their surroundings. Even the slightest change of conditions can damage the material. Some of the changes are inevitable during the move, but you need to measure those changes in seconds. Estimate how long the work can remain crated or packaged. How long will it be in storage, or will it be unpacked as soon as it reaches its destination? Changes in temperature and humidity, especially if the work is held in storage for a long time, might damage it.
When you want to transport a work of art, its physical features play a significant role. Keep in mind the mass of the items you’re sending. Several smaller crates may be required rather than one large one to prevent damage to your work while in transit and to keep the total weight down.
Think about all the options
Consider all of your shipping options and their associated expenses before making a final choice. Packing and shipping crates must be matched for safe and effective shipment. While in some moves where less distance is involved, you can DIY a lot of things, when this kind of move is in question, professional movers at heartmoving.us suggest you as an experienced art handler for help.
Art handlers can take a lot of stress away
Transporting artwork and working with museums are two of an art handling firm’s main areas of expertise. They are prepared to transfer artwork thanks to their trained staff, a fleet of adequately equipped trucks, and secure warehouses. Many people who work in museums and galleries have artistic backgrounds. When experts in art handling are joined with specialized tools and equipment, the resulting team is far superior to that of a conventional moving company.
They have a natural talent for dealing with and resolving issues related to the visual arts. Though the services of art handlers are typically more expensive, they may be necessary to ensure the safety of your valuables. Also, their experience will assure you have a lot less stressful relocation. If you want to know how the relocation process will go, an interview with the shipper is in order.
Make sure all the professionals have good recommendations
The artwork you’ll have transported may be at risk of harm from factors such as the inexperience of the art handlers, adverse weather, jarring roads, and improper storage. While it’s unrealistic to expect every museum to employ professional art handlers, mishaps can be avoided in most cases. Before entrusting your artwork to shippers, performing some background research and asking for recommendations is best. The safest way to ensure that your priceless, fragile, or otherwise delicate items reach their destination in one piece is to use a professional shipping company.
Transporting your art collection internationally can be stress-free
Yes, even the thought of transporting your art collection internationally can make your stomach tie to a not, but it doesn’t have to be this way. If you take enough precautions and follow all the things we mentioned in this guide, you can make a million dollars worth of move look like a piece of cake. The key is to talk to just enough right professionals. Each of them will help you through the process every step of the way.
