What a find that was! Knowing enough about the world of fine paintings to realise what it really was that you’d stumbled upon in that dingy little shop in the back streets of…What’s that you say? You’d rather not say exactly where because you want to go back there soon and see what other treasures might be lurking among the junk? Right then, Mum’s the word! Let’s just say it’s abroad somewhere and you were on holiday.
The thing is the pictures a bit on the big side. At 10 feet across you couldn’t take it home on the plane, not even as excess baggage, so what’s to be done? Well the first thing is to find a firm of
art transport specialists. Art transport and indeed
art storage, should storage be needed, as it might well be with a canvas that size, is a very specialised field. You can’t get away with using any old
removal company when you’re
shipping fine art.
You need a
moving company with the knowledge and experience of handling and properly packing items like fine and often very old paintings, sculptures etc. Most ordinary
moving companies just don’t have that level of expertise so it has to be experienced
art shippers you’re looking for.
Of course the reality is that you weren’t in the least fazed by the logistical problem of getting your bargain back to the UK. The same knowledge of the fine arts world that enabled you to spot the picture and identify it as the genuine article also helped you with that.
Being well versed in the whole business of great pictures and galleries you were also well placed to pick out the right
art shippers to undertake the task. Knowing which
moving company had the art storage facilities needed to keep your picture in just the right conditions was a big help too.
Art transport and art storage tend to go hand in hand so to speak so a
removal company that specialises in
shipping fine art will be likely to be able to provide the art storage you need.
You know of course that the reason why the provision of
art storage is such a specialised business is all to do with temperature and atmospheric conditions. Many people may not be aware that paintings, especially those of great age, need to be stored at the right sort of even temperature to avoid damage.
They may also not realise that the atmosphere itself can cause serious damage to paintings. Incorrect humidity levels can affect both the paint and the canvas on which it’s painted. Chemical pollutants in the atmosphere can attack the paint.
There’s little point in storing a valuable picture in a totally secure environment only to come along later and find that while it hasn’t been stolen it has fallen to pieces due to being stored in unsuitable conditions.
Such damage can occur in a remarkably short period of time so even short term
art storage needs to be left to the experts. With your own knowledge of the subject of course you realised that it was only by sheer luck that the conditions in that grubby little shop where you found this gem just happened to be right but that was in that climate.
It would be when you got the picture home to cold damp old England that the problems were likely to arise. On the journey too, especially if it had to be brought by sea or unpressurised cargo plane. You weren’t worried though. Once you’d made contact with your favourite firm of specialised
art shippers it wasn’t long before they had someone there with a suitable vehicle to collect the picture. Someone with all the right knowledge and experience so you knew your treasure was in safe hands.
So with your mind at rest you could get on with your holiday, enjoying the sights and of course keeping your eyes open for any more forgotten art treasures languishing in unlikely places. You might not find any more but you’ll have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the picture you did find is being cared for by professionals and will be waiting for you whenever you decide to return home.
So your advice to anyone finding themselves in this situation would be to always use one of the leading
moving companies that specialise in
shipping fine art? Right, and if we’re comparing quotes we should always remember that it’s the level of expertise that counts, not the price!
Well that sounds like pretty good advice for any of us to bear in mind when we go abroad on holiday and start looking at what just might be undiscovered art treasures.
Author Bio
Cadogan Tate - a specialist
art storage and art transport company dedicated to fine art shipping and fine art storage. Our fine art shipping solutions include antique and
fine art storage in London, Paris, New York, Los Angeles and Nice, as used by Christie's Auctioneers. Visit
http://www.cadogantate.com/ for more details.
Contact Details
Contact name: Richard Tomkinson
Fine Art Logistics Limited
Cadogan House,
6 - 12 Ponton Road,
Nine Elms,
London
SW8 5BA
Tel +44(0) 800 988 6013
Fax +44 (0) 207 819 6601
Email: richard@cadogantate.com
