Although it might be common to think that the most significant risk to art collectors is theft, the real danger is having it damaged when on the road. That’s where most claims in art come from: damage or loss in transit.

Of course, there are reasons for moving art. Institutions, artists and dealers use art shipping for loans to major exhibitions, commissions if it’s a business, or sending artwork as gifts. Art is on the move all the time, whether it’s across the country, overseas or to a gallery nearby. Wherever it’s needed, transportation is necessary.

Art shipping comes with many risks. They could be anything from improper packaging, leaving marks, to forklifts puncturing crates to sculptures loose in the back of a truck without proper packaging or improperly secured and damaged for good. Table legs can even make holes in painting while on the move.

When artwork is sitting safely on display on a wall or stand, it’s fine. It’s when it’s handled and starts to move that the complications happen and art is most exposed and vulnerable. Even works by famous artists have come to harm, such as a lost Picasso or a gashed Rembrandt. Very high-value pieces can quickly become valueless.

Sometimes art can go “on approval” to collectors to be reviewed in-person. If the collector sends back unwanted artwork without proper care, it can result in a loss of a buyer/seller relationship and any further sales.

There are no standard procedures or overarching regulators for art transportation. Making sure it gets there means taking an active part in choosing how it will go.

Handling and packing are critical to making sure it arrives intact. Because so many mistakes can happen, even a quick drop, it comes down to experience and knowing the hazards. That’s why so many buyers, sellers, artists and organizations use a professional service.

If you live in New Mexico, Pak Mail is a knowledgeable, professional and dedicated art shipping service right in Santa Fe.

Professionals are friendly and highly-trained experts in packing and shipping to ensure your items get there safely and without concerns. Pak Mail has served millions of satisfied customers and ships 35,000 paintings each year.

Pak Mail offers specialty packing with certified staff who assess dimensions and fragility and create custom solutions for items such as antiques, fine art, furniture, auction items and china and glass.

Pak Mail also works in partnership with truck, air and ocean transport companies, which means it can ship almost any item to anywhere in the world. Transport specialists work with less-than-truckload services, small packages and specialized carriers and look after all paperwork, confirmations and tracking to get artwork where it needs to go and in the condition in which it needs to arrive.

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When art shipping your utmost goal obviously is to see that the art reaches its destination safe and in immaculate condition. People whose business is shipping art agree it requires wisdom and planning. Their advice is that you take your time and learn all you can about the various methods of artwork shipping.

When it comes to shipping small and midsize artworks, there are normally two options: you can do it yourself or you can hire professional art movers who are specialists in shipping fine art.

Consider Shipping Artwork Yourself

If you decide to do your own art shipping, you should be aware of the different methods of artwork handling and shipping. It’s good and wise also to consider getting advice from experienced, professional movers. Be mindful that each piece of art you own is unique and demands an individual approach to its packing and shipping.

Fine Art Shippers, a New York-based father and son branded firm specializing in handling and shipping fine art, gives three important things to consider if you go the do-it-yourself route:

• always purchase insurance;
• use only the best packing materials to protect your art during transit;
• pack your artwork early and never wait until the last minute.

If you need professional advice on how to ship artwork safely, experienced art movers should be sought. They will help you avoid costly mistakes.

Shipping Art Using Professional Movers Is the Safest

You want to avoid costly mistakes and not worry about your art piece as it moves from one point to another point. You don’t want to be kicking yourself somewhere down the line for doing a poor job of preparing and not giving proper attention to handling and shipping.
So the safest way to ship art is obvious, isn’t it?

Hire a professional mover and shipper. It’s the safest, wisest way to ship that precious article. Here are some reasons why using professional art movers is the safest way to go:

• professional art movers have all the answers to your questions and can relieve you of any doubts you may be harboring.
• professional movers will guarantee the highest level of care and protection to even the most delicate items.
• professional movers will diligently explain the paperwork involved before you give it your signature.
• professional art movers are affordable and easy on your budget.

In conclusion, professional art movers know what they are doing when it comes to art shipping. They know how best to handle paintings, antiques, and other valuables and collectibles before they are shipped. Make it easy on yourself and use a professional company. It is the safest way to ship art.

It’s very difficult for an untrained person to understand the value of a piece of artwork just by looking at it. What seems pleasing to the eye could be worth very little, while some very simple or chaotic pieces could command extremely high price tags. The more valuable fine art pieces require specific and careful consideration when shipping. Shipping fine art is a specialty that should be left to professionals.

What determines the price of a piece of art?

Like all goods that are bought and sold, the price is determined by supply and demand. Some artists are in very high demand by collectors, and a single person can only paint so many pieces on their own. Bear in mind that a person wanting to own a piece of artwork can only purchase ones that are currently for sale, which is sometimes only one at any given time or even none.

What makes the works of a given artist more in-demand or valuable? Some of the determining factors are the exhibition history of the artist’s works, the price history of the prior sales of their artwork, the career and fame of the artist and the size of the piece. The artist might also raise the price of a piece if there were some high production costs involved in creating it.

The place where you buy a piece of art also affects its value. If you attend an exhibit at one of the world’s most renowned galleries or museums, the price is bound to be much higher. Other factors are current buying trends and tastes. If a particular artist’s style seems to be the current trend in the market, their art can go at a higher price tag. If an artist is seen as the next possible celebrity on-the-rise, many people might seek out their art in anticipation of a big return on investment, and the rising demand will drive up the price.

For artists who have been deceased for decades or centuries, their place in art history plays a large role in the value of their works. Collectors also place higher value on works that are easily recognizable as such when they’re hanging on the wall.

How is art shipped?

If you have to transport some treasured paintings, your method of art shipping has to be taken into consideration. Your artwork could be worth millions, but if it arrives in tatters, it becomes practically worthless.

When shipping valuables, especially art, you must anticipate that mistakes and mishaps are likely to happen and plan to protect your art when these things occur. When shipping artwork, it is advisable to hire professionals who are experienced in art shipping. If your artwork is framed, you may need to have a custom-built wooden crate to house the art and wrap it in bubble wrap to protect the glass and delicate frame from bumps and motion in the vehicle.

If you are transporting unframed artwork, make sure no hands or skin directly touch the art. Wear cotton gloves, and wrap the art in acid-free tissue paper. It’s also good to wrap the art in plastic to protect from moisture or water damage. Sandwich the art between pieces of cardboard and tape them securely shut. If the artwork is being transported with other household belongings, mark it clearly as fragile.

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