Consignment of paintings - how to do it properly?

Are you an artist who sells your work online? Or perhaps your e-commerce business sells paintings that enhance home interiors? In either case, you will have to prepare the packages for the journey yourself. How do you go about this so that transporting a real work of art doesn't end in a real disaster?

Works of art are very delicate objects, so care must be taken not to damage them during transport. So if you decide to send a painting via courier Please be sure to insure your parcel.

In addition to taking out special insurance, you need to secure the package yourself before it sets off. For this task you will need: foil, paper, cardboard, polystyrene foam, a cardboard box, tape and scissors. Sounds complicated? Not at all in practice!

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How do I protect the image before shipping?

Proper protection of the painting before transport is very important. Attention must be paid to every part of it, not just the canvas. Remember to touch the painting only with white, unused gloves. The sharp edges of the frame are most susceptible to damage. So, step by step, how do you cover everything well and prepare it for the long journey?

• Protect the image with paper

You should first drape the artwork over the paper - for this it is best to use a white brulion a few centimetres larger than the size of the painting. Line a flat surface with the paper and then place the painting on it so that the painted side rests on the brulion. Then drape the paper over the other side of the painting. Secure the whole thing with tape, making sure that it is only stuck to the paper.

• Cover the picture with cardboard

Secure the paper-covered image with cardboard. To do this, cut out rectangles from cardboard the size of the artwork. Attach them on both sides and tape them together. Instead of cardboard, you can use pvc foam. Remember to glue the pieces together well, using strong tape (e.g. black film tape).

• Wrap the image with foil

The next step is to wrap the image with foil - ideally twice. Bubble wrap and stretch wrap will work well for this. You can also place the artwork in a plastic bag, as long as it has the right dimensions. This is a very important step, because such packaging will protect the artwork from moisture, to which it may be exposed during transport. Make sure you seal the material well.

• Make frame corner protectors

To ensure that the corners of the frame are not damaged, you need to secure them with cardboard corners. To do this, cut cones from cardboard to fit the picture. Make sure that they are not too loose, as they will not provide the necessary protection, thus increasing the chance of damage to the picture. Secure the finished corners well with tape, attaching them to the foil.

• Protect the image with polystyrene boards

In the next step you need to prepare two polystyrene plates. Ideally, these should have the shape of the image hollowed out so that it can be inserted and snapped into them. This is very important because the image needs to be immobilised. Secure the whole thing well with tape, wrapping the polystyrene boards with it several times. Instead of polystyrene, you can use plywood or foam board.

• Place image in cardboard box

You can put the painting, protected in this way, into the prepared cardboard box. Remember to size the packaging appropriately for the artwork to be shipped, so that it has no room to move during transit. Fill the free space in the packaging with special fillers - for example, starch crisps or crumpled paper. Before you seal the box, make sure that the image inside is stationary. If you are still concerned about the safety of the object, you can pack it in another box and put the fillers inside again.

• Seal the carton well

As a final step, ensure that your packaging is well sealed. This will ensure that the painting can travel safely. Apply a label to the finished package and mark for the courier that he is transporting fragile materials.

Image shipment by courier

When deciding to send such valuable items as works of art, you must bear in mind that the courier company cannot always provide them with suitable transport conditions. Thus, they do not always agree to transport such things. The biggest problem, when transporting paintings, is the changing temperature, which can adversely affect the canvas being transported.

When sending a painting, you have to take into account the possibility of it being damaged, even if you protect it perfectly. In the case of unique works of art, it is difficult to have an ordinary complaints procedure. You should therefore be aware before shipping that you will not get such a work back once it is damaged.

Therefore, we remind you once again that for such delicate items, when ordering transport by courier, do not forget to take out special insurance. To estimate its value, consult the calculator on the carrier's website, giving its exact dimensions (when packed!) and special security services.