Fine art demands cautious handling and as little movement as possible throughout its lifetime. Otherwise, paint or other art media may wear off, lightweight canvases may stretch, and the work may be damaged! Given that great art is often quite an investment, it would be tragic if a mistake or hasty action on your side damaged this asset—let alone the sorrow of a wrecked work of art!

The good news is that you aren't the only one who feels this way. Here, we'll cover the finest techniques for moving art on your own and how to identify the best art movers. In any case, after reading this article, you'll be well prepared to protect your assets and successfully relocate your fine art.

What is fine art?
This question has a subject and objective response. Subjectively, fine art is everything that may be recognised by a discriminating eye as art! Art is anything that a spectator finds appealing or that evokes an emotion in them.

Fine art is something created by a lot of hard work over a lengthy period of time, or by using a highly fine technique.

And, objectively, great art may be defined. Paintings, sculptures, sketches, illuminations—fine art is everything that is worth showing or may be created to be shown in a museum.

Fine art is made up of ancient, delicate, and costly objects. The older paper or canvas will need to be safeguarded. Others feature delicate protrusions or wires that must not be twisted. Finally, many historic pieces of art (especially paintings) cannot be exposed to excessive heat, cold, or humidity since the paint may begin to disintegrate.

Moving Fine Art

Whether you're transporting a priceless painting or a large, intricate sculpture, it's preferable if you consider yourself to be held to the same high standards as excellent museums when it comes to transferring their possessions from place to place. When it comes to preserving your valuable and sensitive possessions, there is no such thing as being too fragile! This section will discuss how museums utilize moving companies to secure their artwork.

First, make sure the settings for exhibiting your work are as healthy for the painting as possible while yet allowing for movement. Considering that the main purpose of moving fine art is to cause the least amount of disruption as possible, you will discover that if—for example—the frame in which your painting is shown is already quite robust and the glass covering your painting is already extremely thick, then your artwork is already set up for a positive relocation.

The first step is to invest in long-term (even permanent) art protection. Second, make sure that everyone who is moving the components is adequately protected by insurance coverage. People who want to transfer fine art must undergo extensive training before they can be licensed to do so. When you visit some museums, you can really see great art being relocated; when the steps are carried out, people will applaud enthusiastically, since moving fine art is a kind of art in and of itself!

A good pair (or many) of white gloves, moving blankets, tethers, and a custom-made box are all items you will likely need to move your fine art yourself. Furthermore, even if your great art is as little as the Mona Lisa, you'll want to hold it in two gloved hands at all times, which will be difficult if you're carrying it alone. So you'll need someone to at least open doors for you.

If your artwork is heavy or huge, you'll need assistance.

When you're ready, gently remove the art from the wall, pedestal, or wherever it's been set. Then into a box or a blanket pile (or, preferably, both). Make certain that the work of art is packed in such a manner that it will not be able to move throughout the transportation procedure.

The next step depends on how far you're travelling! Long-distance movers may often attempt to combine the personalized container with other moving items to save time; if you move it yourself, you may have more flexibility.

It is advised that you relocate the artwork yourself, rather than mailing it or flying it across the nation. This simply means that you will be able to track your shipment. The temperature inside a plane isn't ideal for fine art, and you can't trust any of the big shipping firms to keep your box safe.

This may need renting (or driving) your fine art to its new home. Additionally, just as having friends assist you in moving the piece of art into its container was probably a smart idea, having volunteers sit with the crate throughout the transfer to ensure it does not move may rescue your piece of art from an unfavourable destiny.

Finally, remember that proximity to your destination does not mean safety for your artwork! Follow every single step discussed above to get your beautiful work to the finish line. Then, after the art is securely placed in its new home, you may celebrate with a glass of champagne and the company of your closest friends.

What should you consider before hiring fine art movers?

Choosing not to move your fine art yourself is perfectly acceptable; in fact, it may be preferable since you'll be able to relax, and any errors or accidents that may occur will most likely be covered by either your insurance or the moving company's insurance, depending on your situation.

But your work isn't done yet. Before entrusting your work to a moving company, be sure you can trust them! Let's speak about things to take into consideration while hiring fine art movers.

First, do your homework. Even if you believe you're dealing with one of the top moving companies, you might be deceived! To avoid this, study online evaluations of your providers, phone around for prices, and ask friends and family who have used them for personal recommendations.

It's a good idea to take a few minutes to think about whether you want to use a moving company or a broker. Neither of them is perfect, but one is likely to be better for you and your move. Consider all of your alternatives and assess the pros and cons of each! It won't be a regretful exercise.

If you're moving with a moving company, think about how much work they expect you to do. Some moving firms do everything from packing to unpacking, while others specialise in shipping. When you sign on the dotted line, don't take on more than you can handle.

What to Look Out For When Moving Fine Art

Your fine art is an important investment, so you want to be sure the movers you choose do an excellent job. Be careful when picking a fine art mover; the lowest bidder may be a fraud! Instead, go through all of the proposals and the relocation expenses. This will give you a decent picture of what you're paying for!

Aside from having the movers handle everything for you, there is another factor to consider when outsourcing out the transport of your fine art. As you might have already guessed, that is moving insurance. Moving insurance is always recommended, especially when dealing with priceless art. This is due to the fact that your fine art is most likely really expensive. You don't want to lose that investment if anything goes wrong during your transfer.

It's important to read the small print on your moving insurance paper. Make sure you don't invalidate it by breaking the rules! Fortunately, the contract you signed must include all of the facts, so prepare a big cup of coffee and read it carefully. In the case of a moving business, if you discover that your insurance will only be honoured if you use a certain sort of moving company, it is in your best advantage to choose that type of firm.

All of these procedures aren't merely to protect your money in the worst-case situation. They're also for your comfort: If you are certain that you and your interests will be secured no matter what happens during your relocation, you may be able to relax a little and enjoy the monumental experience of migrating rather than obsessing about topics you have previously researched.

Conclusion

Keep in mind that you're doing all of this effort so you may show your magnificent piece of art in your new home! Consider how wonderful it would be when you are not tempted to cut corners or behave recklessly throughout the moving process. There will be multiple times during the moving process when you will be tempted to do so. Remembering why you're doing it, especially after your art is crated and you can't see it, will help you focus on the task at hand.

Moving fine art is a lot of effort, but perhaps less work than creating the item in the first place! As with moving pianos, plants, pets, or elders, you'll want to follow certain best practices for additional care.

Even if you're relocating with kids or heavy objects like hot tubs or pool tables, expect a rough and exciting journey! There are several aspects to consider while moving difficult pieces of furniture or works of art, but the ultimate result will be well worth the effort.