Shipping fine art requires careful consideration to prevent damage during transportation. The key principle is to ensure that nothing touches the surface of the artwork, as this can cause damage such as ferrotyping, marring, and abrasion (Source: Article snippets).
It is recommended to use rigid backing boards to dampen transit vibrations and to ship in temperature-controlled trucks or planes (Source: Article snippets). If shipping by air, it's essential to take steps to prevent the paint layer from vibrating during transit (Source: Article snippets).
When packing paintings for shipping, a simple and cost-effective method is to use corner and edge protection made from corrugated cardboard to prevent anything from touching the painting's surface (Source: Article snippets).
In terms of transportation services, FedEx is recommended, and it's crucial to declare the value of the artwork and consider purchasing additional insurance if the value exceeds $500 (Source: Article snippets).
Additionally, artists should be aware of the temperature and humidity conditions during transportation, especially when shipping to or from cold climates, and take necessary precautions to prevent damage (Source: Article snippets).
Golden Artist Colors provides resources and advice on packing and shipping paintings, including a video tutorial on how to pack small paintings for shipping (Source: videos-35).
Overall, shipping fine art requires careful planning, attention to detail, and the use of proper materials and techniques to ensure the safe transportation of valuable artworks.