Fine Art Shipping (R & S)
12th February 2008 The successful and safe shipping of fine art involves a complex and meticulous process which throws up many challenges at each and every stage.
There are a number of factors which can make pieces vulnerable, and susceptible to damage whilst in transit.
A great amount of time, effort and consideration must therefore go into ensuring that every priceless, irreplaceable, and often delicate, item, reaches its new home in the exact condition it was in when purchased by its buyer.
That means that at every stage – from collecting to packaging, shipping to final delivery – making sure that each piece of art suffers no damage must be of primary concern.
Aberdeen-based The Shore Porters’ Society has extensive experience in shipping fine art throughout the world, and a second-to-none reputation among auction houses, dealers, galleries and collectors, who trust the firm implicitly with providing an unrivalled service.
With many years experience of dealing in fine art, Shore Porters provides clients with a complete service, covering all parts of the shipping process – including logistics, packaging and customs clearance. With highly skilled and experienced personnel – from drivers and packers to casemakers and office staff – the firm handles each delivery with the sensitivity that fine art shipping requires.
The company – which was established more than 500 years ago - prides itself in applying the utmost dedication and professionalism to each and every move it undertakes, whether that involves shipping an international exhibition of priceless paintings or one single item of furniture. Its primary aim being to implement at each stage, every possible measure to ensure the items in its care survive their journey undamaged.
An interesting example of the work that Shore Porters’ fine arts division regularly carries out, and which demonstrates the thoroughness with which the firm handles each move, is the shipping of fine art which the company undertakes for New York-based company, Ann Morris Antiques Inc.
Specialising in the sale of antique and reproduction lighting, as well as antique furniture, Ann Morris is owned by Herbert Schinderman who runs the family business from his 6,000 square feet premises located in mid-town Manhattan.
Ann Morris has a unique relationship with Shore Porters. Formed some 17 years ago, the working relationship has developed as a result of the removal company shipping large amounts of antique items from the UK to Ann Morris’ premises on a regular basis.
During his many trips to the UK, Mr Schinderman visits antique dealers and auction rooms across the country, looking to purchase items to transport back to the USA. When a piece is bought, Shore Porters is immediately notified, at which point the removal firm arranges to collect the goods and take it to their facilities in Aberdeen.
Commenting on why he chose to work with Shore Porters initially, Mr Schinderman said: “We regularly purchase items of high value which need to be handled with extreme care. We therefore wanted to work with a company in which we could have total confidence and trust. Shore Porters was recommended to us as it had, and continues to have, an excellent reputation and is looked upon as one of the most careful removal firms in the UK.
“The company takes both a professional and personal approach to everything it does. Professional in terms of how it handles the likes of packaging and shipping, and personal in that the team takes a tailored approach to the delivery of each of my items.
“At the end of the day, Shore Porters has been in business for more than 500 years, which would suggest that they know exactly what they are doing and continue to deliver a high quality service, time and time again.”
Upon arrival in the North-east of Scotland, each of Mr Schinderman’s pieces is carefully photographed to record its state and condition before being safely and securely wrapped and packed.
Mr Schinderman continually builds a stock of items in the UK, and often uses this opportunity to arrange for any restoration work to be completed on an individual piece before requesting the item be delivered to New York. Valuable time and money can be saved by having items restored in the UK and not in the States.
Mr Schinderman then draws up an extensive list of the exact items from his UK-based collection which he requires to be brought over to Manhattan, and with legislation dictating that items have to be shipped out of the country within a certain period of time, the pieces are chosen and selected, not simply because of demand, but also to ensure that legal requirements are adhered to.
Shore Porters then commences with what is arguably the most important stage in the shipping of fine art process – packing each fragile item. Works of art are often most vulnerable during transit and damage is primarily caused as a result of inadequate packaging. Shore Porters therefore takes a tailored approach to everything it does, customising its packaging to each particular shipment.
Graham Burnett, a partner with Shore Porters, says that specialist skills are required in order to ensure that items are suitably packed and therefore fully protected during their trip across the Atlantic Ocean.
He said: “Over the many years we’ve shipped fine art – during which we’ve transported thousands of items – we’ve encountered every possible challenge which can arise in relation to pieces being damaged.
“A vital service we offer involves creating custom-built, robust crates which protect items from damage. We have a skilled team of in-house casemakers who build crates which have the strength and capacity to hold pretty much anything and everything, from small single items to multiple objects of various shapes and sizes.
“Crafting the crates involves much more thought and planning than simply nailing pieces of wood together, as each one must be built in such a way that allows easy access and minimum disruption to the items contained within.”
Particular attention also has to be paid to the actual wood used to build the crates, especially in relation to shipping goods to the States, as the country has very strict customs and inspection systems which must be adhered to.
Graham continued: “All wood packaging materials that enter the country must be treated to kill any harmful insects. Therefore, we must use wood that has been treated to a core temperature of 56 degrees celsius and stamped with the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) logo.
“In addition, the two-letter International Organization for Standardization (ISO) code for the country that treated the wood, the treatment facility number assigned by the national plant protection organisation, and either HT for heat treatment or MB for methyl bromide must be visible.
“It would be disastrous if we had arranged for a crate of goods to make its way from Aberdeen all the way to the United States, only for it to be deemed unsafe and refused entry at the border. The items would then have to be returned back to Scotland, re-crated using suitably stamped material before being re-shipped back to America – an incredibly expensive and time consuming process which can be easily avoided.”
Before being carefully placed within crates by Shore Porters’ specialist team of packers, items are skilfully wrapped, covered and cushioned – using materials that maximise each piece’s protection.
Graham explained: “We use only the most suitable and effective materials in our protective packaging. For example, thick polystyrene sheets are very strong and provide excellent impact resistant cushioning.
“When wrapping goods we also use cushioned paper blankets which have a wax coating to repel moisture, providing an extra layer of protection against another highly destructive element – dampness.”
In order to maximise efficiency and minimise time wastage, Shore Porters draws the dimensions of a 20ft container, which is used in transatlantic shipping and supplied by the contracted shipping line, onto the floor and walls of one of the firm’s storage warehouses, marking its exact length, breadth and height.
Staff there are then able to carefully carry out a trial run, providing them with the opportunity to determine the safest and most space efficient method of loading the container. When it does arrive in Aberdeen, members of the Shore Porters team thoroughly inspect the condition of the container to ensure it is clean, watertight and odourless.
As well as shipping directly to its own customers – who include all the leading UK auction houses, antique dealers, private clients, galleries, museums, artists, collectors – Shore Porters also works with other removal firms across the country, who may require additional logistical support or even seek to outsource the whole of their fine arts shipping.
As a result of its large, modern fleet, Shore Porters has an excellent network of vehicles travelling the length and breadth of the country on a daily basis.
“The fact we have so many vehicles on the road every day means that we are in an excellent position to carry part-loads or even full shipments on behalf of other removal firms,” said Graham.
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