Shipping paintings and prints from UK to Germany

[bluedave 2,499]

Ok, so i'm clearing out the contents of my abode in the UK so i can sell the bugger and just get on with living here and i have a quandry.

 

I have collected various prints and paintings over the years and love them to bits and want them here to really feel at home.

 

There are about 20 of them and they are all framed and range from A4 size up to AO size roughly, ( 297 x 210 up to 1189 x 841 ).

 

Now, some of them are valuable in a monetary sense but one in particular is irreplaceable, as it's a pastel chalk drawing of my son when he was just 3, and so i'm a little nervous about the whole thing.

 

Being neither an artist nor someone who has experience of shipping breakables, i have no clue how best to go about this.

 

I therefore look to the combined wisdom of the TT massif and beseech thee to pass on any knowledge of best practice in this case.

 

Is there a particular type of packaging i have to ask for? ( Bubble wrap, hard casing etc )

 

Are there companies who have been used by someone here who specialise in this?

 

I can google and have done but personal experience counts.

 

Thanks y'all.

 

[Derekbeggs 1,967]

Bluedave,

 

Dont, whatever you do use DPD, really, on no account use them, they destroyed a whole exhibition of mine in transit to the UK, I think the thread is still around somewhere.

 

The most fragile part of any painting or drawing is the glass obviously. When I ship paintings and drawings in glass, this is what I do.

 

Tape up the glass, like windows in the blitz, the more tape the better as even if the glass breaks, the shards wont damage the painting or drawing.

 

Then build up a layer of packing material like polystyrene or card from the level of the glass, to the level of the highest part of the frame, this will act as a buffer. now is time to wrap the whole thing. Bubble wrap is great, the more the better. I can recommend though using hardboard first, to protect the front. If you cut it just wider than the frame, attach it over the side with the glass before you bubble wrap it.

 

Always pack the paintings face to face and back to back, so that any fixtures on the rear of the frame dont damage the front of it or the glass.

 

I then line a box with polystyrene, and pack the paintings in there with as much packing as possible and re-enforce the outer packaging with more sheets of hardboard.

 

Then use a reliable courier and send them insured.

 

I use CCS here. http://www.ccs-express.de/default.asp?forceLang=1&l=de

 

They are reasonably priced and I have always found them very reliable for shipping my paintings after the DPD disaster.

 

When the paintings arrive it is very important, no matter how irritated the delivery driver is, to open the box and check for damage as the insurance will cause problems if you notice anything after you sign for it.

 

Thats about it, PM me if you need any help

 

Derek

 

EDIT: I just saw you needed them shipped from the UK, leave it with me, I will dig out a UK shipper for you.

[Ratbert 3]

If any of the paintings/drawings can be removed from their frame, you lay them flat on the floor and cover the surface with a large piece of paper then roll them around a cardboard tube and insert the whole thing into a length of plastic plumbing pipe (available in various diameters and lengths). The pipe/tube can then be capped with matching caps and then sealed with tape.

 

Aside from fire, this should be just about indestructible.

[bluedave 2,499]

Thanks Derek, mucho grateful.

 

Thanks Ratbert but i'm hoping to ship them all intact.

[billrobin 39]

I know this is an old thread but just wondering if anyone has any ideas of a good way to get a box weighing 62kg, containing 3 paintings, insured, from Berlin to London. Its too big for dhl (123x132x40cm) I tried ccs as recommended above. they told me to get a wooden box made in order to qualify for insurance, then called today (after the 120 euro box was made) and said they 'can't ship art.

 

I tried some specialist art shipping people - they quoted €500!

 

so if anyone has any ideas I would be grateful for the advice. thanks

[alterjank 83]

In the same situation, I'd be inclined to pack them carefully in a car and bring them across myself on a ferry or through the Chunnel.

[biscuit73 1]

Might be a good way to go. Just sent a box (65kg 1.2mx1.2m..5m) of paintings to London, insured...

 

Arranged by these people:

 

http://www.kltransporte.de/

 

Very helpful, they collected the box within 1 hour & said it will arrive Wednesday this week.

 

Great service...

 

The catch..?

 

Cost €350

[a.tuttle 1,757]

350 sounds reasonable for 65 Kilo. (was that based more on the weight, or the size?)

 

I need to ship some paintings to someone in another EU country. It's my first time doing this and so I'm relatively clueless. I also want to provide a simple, singular charge for shipping EU-Wide, just to make things simple in the future and to automate it through a web storefront. So my first question is- what about import tax and so on? How would the customs deal with that. In other words how would they 1) know that it is sent within the context of a sale and 2) assess the value thereof?

[Pop Alexandra 0]

You can also consider  https://artystransit.ca/en. Their prices are fair and the fully guarantee the shipment's value.