Does anyone know how best to pack/ship antiquities to another country?
Hire professional antiquity shippers. Check with a big city museum or expensive art gallery nearest you.
Thanks. I have not heard back from our local museum. I didn’t know about professional shippers, so I’m researching those.
No idea about antiquities–gotta go with a pro for that one I suspect.
But if you are shipping something that isn’t irreplaceable but you really would like to survive the trip, one tip I have heard is to buy a cooler, pack your object well and place it in the cooler, and then pack the cooler in a proper shipping box.
I’d be more concerned about the legality and paperwork than the actual packing and shipping. Look for an expert on all of these aspects.
I mean, there’s armoires and there’s arrowheads, both old and needing transporation but have little else in common.
I suggest checking with local antique auction places. Some pack and ship themselves but a lot outsource to locals familiar with the risks. It may well just be the local shipping storefront Fedex or UPS franchise. It won’t be inexpensive.
Yes! I have found such a business whose website highlights this. Oy vey! This won’t be as easy/affordable as I had hoped.
First how rare are these antiquities and how much are they worth? eBay sellers regularly ship antiquities internationally and don’t usually hire professional shippers. You might look for some Youtube videos.
There are companies, such as Pak Mail, who specialize in shipping antiques worldwide.
I was thinking that the local UPS Store could probably handle this. Is it something easily breakable, like a porcelain vase? Or is it made of bronze and relatively durable? Either way, they have experience and the right supplies.
Maybe those oil lamps one poster was talking about sending back? In which case, not rare.
They’re independently operated and not all will be equally set up for packing fragile valuables. But a consult with the local auction house might let OP know which UPS location they use. Some auction and antique places put that info right on their web page or within an item listing so a prospective bidder can contact to see what it will cost to ship the lot.
I had to use a service like that once, it was $80 to pack & ship a glass picture frame & enclosed doc that I won in an antiques auction, also for about $80. It was the only way to get this unique item safely from the East coast where the auction was held and the auctioneers don’t do it themselves. I grumbled at the time but it arrived safely and indeed well packed and I just say I got it for $150.