What To Keep In Mind When Shipping Antiques And Fragile Items

Antiques can be sentimentally or financially priceless items, that is up to you to decide.

Regardless of which it is, you never want them to be damaged when you move. There are a number of things you need to keep in mind when it comes to shipping your antiques and fragile items.

Chief among them is insurance!

It is always important to purchase antique insurance for your items.

Remember to read between the lines and make sure that the insurance covers the full appraisal amount of the antique and not just a percentage.

Next up is cleaning!

Make sure that your antique is spotless before it is packaged up.

The smallest amount of dust or debris on a wooden surface, glass mirror, or silver plate can scratch and damage the antique under packaging materials.

Make it a photo start!

Take pictures of your antiques before they are packaged. Make sure you catch every angle and bit of pre-existing damage there is.

Make it a photo finish!

Then when you arrive at your destination with your antiques, unpack immediately and make an assessment.

Compare the ‘before’ photos and see if there is any additional damage that was caused by the move.

Find the right fit!

When packaging antiques or fragile items, you want to make sure that there is minimal wiggle room.

Make the container, box, or crate just slightly larger than the item. If there is too much wiggle room around the item then there is a greater chance of damage.

Pack it tight!

Another thing you need to keep in mind when shipping antiques and fragile items is shock absorbency.

Use packing foam, straw, airbags, and packing pillows to reduce the amount of shock the antique will experience.

Wrap it up!

If some antiques are too large to be crated or boxed up and can be moved on their own then make sure you wrap them up.

Use blankets, bedding, and towels to create a cushion and protect corners and surfaces from bumps and greasy fingerprints.

Strap it down!

Make sure that all antiques are strapped down in place when they are loaded into a vehicle. Use wide strapping bands to secure the items to prevent rubbing damage that would come from thin rope or cords.

Your antiques are precious to you and should therefore be treated as such when you move. You must secure their value with insurance, protect their dignity with photographs, and package them safely to be enjoyed in all their glory in their new home.