When transporting fragiles, vases, or sculptures either find the best movers possible with the most experience, or use these helpful tips to insure a safe trip.

PACKING FRAGILES, VASES, STATUES

VASES AND STATUES  

First, find a box that is 1/3 to ½ larger than the piece being packed.  Plenty of room on the sides is also critical for the safety of the piece.  Mark the box “Fragile” in large letters on 2 sides (not top or bottom) of the box.  If applicable, mark the box “this end up” if the piece warrants it.

Fill the bottom ¼ of the box with packing peanuts or wadded newsprint.  Then wrap the item with either bubble wrap or 3 ply paper pads cut to the correct size.  Remember if the piece is delicate and has thin handles or decorations do not wrap tightly as it will break the handles, etc.  Stand the item up in the box and fill with peanuts or newsprint all the way to the top.  Make sure the box is tight and has no rattle or movement when shaken.  If there is more than 1 item within the box, list the exact number of pieces in the box, and a description of each.  For instance, if a vase has a small top or lid it can be easily be missed and discarded with the packing materials if not identified properly.  A descriptive inventory on the box or a sheet of paper helps account for parts or accessories. 

FRAGILES:  (like figurines, etc)

If durable enough, follow the same rules as with vases and statues.  If they are smaller items, pack into a smaller box 6” to 10 “with other smalls making sure to give ample room between.  List the items within on the outside of the small box.  Take multiple small boxes and pack them in a larger carton marked fragile.  Use a packing peanut or newsprint base, packing peanuts or newsprint around and in between the smaller boxes and all the way to the top of the large carton.  This will give double protection for your pieces.  Remember to never wrap thin or delicate items tightly as they will fracture under the strain.

 With any type of vases, statues, or fragiles, if you have the original Styrofoam form fitting box, it is always the best option.  When purchasing such items, keep the box and store it, you will be happy in the future that you did. 

If the items in question are extremely valuable or delicate crating may be necessary.  Crating is the use of a made to order plywood container for shipping.  Long distance moves are another area where crating is a good idea.  This is definitely a time to contact a professional mover with experience in the field.

These tips should assist in making sure that your fragile items can be shipped from point A to point B without incident.

Moving artwork can vary between a simple self move and needing professionals.  Art size and type and move type can help you determine whether you can move the pieces yourself, you need furniture movers, or art moving specialists.  The next tips can help you choose the proper move option.

First determine the type and size of the artwork that is to be moved.

Smaller pictures

8×11” or smaller should be treated like china, wrapped up and packed in a carton with like sized pieces.   Wadded newsprint should be used as a base and used at the top of the carton as a shock absorber.  If the art is oil on canvas, gloves should be used to avoid oil from the hands getting on the art, “acid free” paper should also be used to wrap the piece to insure the art is not affected by wrapping materials.  “Acid free” paper can be purchased at most craft or art supply stores.

Larger Artwork:

Up to 48”x60” can be packed in a 2 piece picture/mirror carton, a flat carton that can telescope to fit the artwork better.  Cardboard corner protectors, or wadded newsprint can be used in each of the 4 corners to provide a shock absorber.  If the artwork is thin enough, 2 pieces can be packed back to back in the same carton for efficiency.  As with smaller pieces, if the art is oil on canvas, a layer of acid free paper should be used to wrap the artwork.

Extra Large Pictures:

Larger pictures up to 60”x80” can fit into a 4 piece picture mirror carton.  The same rules apply as with a 2 piece picture mirror carton.

With both types of picture/mirror cartons, when shipped they should be placed in the upright position and not laid flat.  Actually if the move is local and very close, more durable artwork can be wrapped and stood up in the back of an SUV, or placed by a mover in what’s called a speedpack  (a 2 ½ ‘ x 4’ open topped bin)  wrapped or separated by cardboard and shipped.  The farther the distance usually means the more secure the packaging.

Special, extremely fragile artwork:

This refers to pieces (like gold leaf frame or valuable artwork) can and should be crated by a mover with fine art experience or an art moving specialist.  These types of pieces are not for amateurs or do it yourselfers.    If a high value article is being moved by a professional, a high value inventory should be filled out, and potentially an appraisal should be obtained prior to the move.

These tips should help in sorting out some of the art moving questions.

TABLE LAMPS:

Table lamps are usually 8” to 30” tall and sit on top of a piece of furniture like an end table or night stand.  The best way to move this type of lamp is to remove the shade and harp (metal frame that holds the shade) and keep them together as one unit.  Then remove the bulb from the lamp (make sure the lamp is off and unplugged so the bulb is cool).  If the bulb is left in the lamp it can put extra torque on the neck of the lamp and possibly break it.  Multiple shades can be packed in a large box marked fragile as long as the harp from one lamp doesn’t interfere with the next shade, if it does remove the harp from the shade by unscrewing the finial at the top and mark all with masking tape.  Bubble wrap or wadded newsprint should be used on the inside and outside of the shades to secure and prohibit shifting and or rattling around the carton while providing support.  Once the shades are packed, the lamps can also be packed together in a separate carton from the shade (height and width permitting).  A bottom cushion of bubble wrap or wadded newsprint should create a 3” base in the bottom of the carton.  The lamps should be wrapped with bubble wrap or lots of paper (even old towels, etc would work).  Make sure the lamps within the box are secure and don’t have any rattle.  Finish off with another 3” of wadded newsprint all the way to the top of the carton.

POLE LAMPS:

Pole lamps are usually 5’ to 7’ tall.  The lamps usually stand on the floor and similar rules as table lamps with the first order of business being the removal and securing of the shade apply.  Pole lamp shades are often rigid plastic or glass.  They should be unscrewed until loose, removed, and the securing screws or ring reattached to the lamp.  The shade should be packed in a carton similar to the method in packing a floor lamp shade with a wadded paper based, secured wrapping and wadded paper top.  The body or shaft of a pole lamp needs to be supported when transporting to prevent damaged due to the fact that the base is usually much denser and heavier than the pole itself.  A pole lamp carton is a good way to prevent damage with the lamp standing upright when shipped.  If a carton is not available, use extra wrapping around the shaft of the pole lamp creating a cylinder type shape. This should help prevent damage even if the lamp is laid on its side.

These tips should help transport the majority of lamps that are in most residences.  Remember that many of the rules of moving are interchangeable for breakables, china and lamps and once the rule of thumb are learned they can be applied over and over.

PACKING DISHES AND OTHER BREAKABLES: 

 Dishes and other breakables should be packed in a dish pack ( a double walled box).

Start with a layer of wadded up newsprint about 3 inches as a base in the bottom of the box.  Wrap same sized plates together in groups of 4 as follows.  Start with one plate down near the bottom corner of a stack of newsprint.  Fold the one or 2 sheets of paper over so it completely covers the plate, then stack and repeat until you have a stack of 4 plates.  Then fold in the 2 side wings, and roll forward to the end of the sheet of paper.  You will end up with a 4” high dish shaped package.  When placing the bundle in the box, stand the dishes on end, DO NOT LAY FLAT.  Try and keep the first layer relatively the same height and add another 3” of wadded news print as a buffer when the bottom layer is full.

A second layer of consisting bowls, serving dishes, etc is fine.  You can also use coffee mugs or glasses.  Again stand them up and put enough newsprint around handles to protect them.  When packing wine glasses, put enough paper around the stems so each glass is a cylinder.  Wine glasses should not have too much weight on them so if they are in a second layer make the top layer plastic cups, (lighter items), etc. to make the box manageable, but tightly packed with no space left open.  Dish packs that follow the heavy bottom, medium middle layer and lighter top layer work well.

PACKING A LARGE KITCHEN BOX:  

Items that are more durable like pots and pans, Tupperware, bowls, can be packed in a 4.5 cubic foot box depending on weight and density.  Packing smaller items inside larger to conserve space like 3 sizes of pots inside each other, separated by a layer of paper is good.  Always have a buffer layer of wadded newsprint to start, pack the box full to the top even if newsprint has to be used on top as a filler.

PACKING A MEDIUM KITCHEN BOX: 

Items like small appliances, dry goods, even canned goods are good in medium boxes, use the same rule with newsprint as a buffer on the bottom and top.  A wrapping of newsprint around each appliance or item works well.  Remember you want no rattle when you give the box a little shake.

PACKING A SMALL KITCHEN BOX: 

 Kitchen drawers with silverware, cookbooks, utensils, are dense and heavy so a smaller box is best.  Contents of each drawer can be wrapped up in a few sheet of newsprint almost like an envelope or separator, this make less mess and make unpacking easier.  Stack the couple drawer’s contents in each box and fill out with wadded newsprint.

PACKING THE FRIDGE OR FREEZER: 

 For the fridge, get a cooler or 2 , and place the contents in the cooler.  A good way to keep the food cold and secure inside is to add a bag of ice over the top once the cooler items have been place in it.  For the freezer stack in the cooler to the top, no ice is needed.

Always remember to use packing rules of thumb like the denser the items the smaller the box, and pack tight to the top, so there is no “rattle” when the box is shaken.  Follow these steps, take your time, and you can master the kitchen.