Any antique can be ruined by an unsightly mark, blemish or crack. Besides their sentimental value, damage decreases the antiques worth and repair can be costly. Whether you’re taking your antiques to a roadshow, selling them on or moving house, simply follow this guide to put your mind at rest whilst your (hopefully) valuable antiques are safely transported.
Preparation
With fragile goods of this nature it is important to describe your antiques to your chosen transport provider or man with a van courier. Tell your courier how you are going to package your antiques and how heavy or large they maybe. You should also mention if you have any special requirements such as a need to handle with gloves. Always mark your boxes as fragile as well as writing down your name, in case any confusion or complications arise. Photographing your antiques to document their condition before transport is a smart move should you ever need to provide evidence of damage caused during transit. When dealing with the transport of multiple antiques, create an inventory of your items which you can then tick off upon arrival.
Ask your antique couriers as many questions as possible. Have they delivered antiques in the past? Do they have the needed insurance cover? Is the equipment they use best suited for the transport of antiques, including loading and unloading? These sort of questions should be raised before deciding upon any one transport provider. Check past reviews of any courier service to make sure they have not got a history of damaging goods.
In some cases it may be best to hire a professional antiques courier to keep peace of mind when moving specialty goods and items.
Packaging
Newspaper and bubble wrap will be your best friend when it comes to packaging your antiquities. Certain types of antiques such as glass and porcelain will always need to be wrapped, even double-wrapped, to prevent cracks and breakages. Newspaper can be used by scrunching it up and packing it firmly inside any hollow glass or porcelain antiques. Bubble wrap and foam sheers are essential for more delicate or higher valued items. Whenever you deliver fragile possessions you will need to use blankets. Remember, thicker blankets will generally be needed for larger and heavier antiques. If the surface of your antiques is particularly prone to scracthes, use a softer material.
Try not to group multiple items within the same box and certainly do not put mismatched items in the same packaging. For example you would be playing a very risky game if you transported fragile items with particularly heavy goods. You will want to use packaging filler such as styro-foam peanuts or humble newspaper to fill out any space inside your boxes.”
If the item is light or small, it makes sense that it transported on top of heavier goods. Transport providers are there to help you out, so if you spot something being done incorrectly, let them know.
