Urban Art Association

Recommendations For Shipping High End Art In The US, by met on Jan 20, 2023 1:48:43 GMT 1,

Jan 20, 2023 0:31:10 GMT 1 Grillocracy said:

So I need to ship a piece within the US valued at $15,000 and have never sent anything that expensive before. I've been trying to make sense of the max amount I can insure a package for via FedEx or UPS and it seems like neither come close to $15k. 

Can anyone recommend how to do it, perhaps alternative shipping companies? I don't want it to end up damaged (though it is packed pretty bulletproof) or have it turn up missing and be left having to reimburse the buyer.

1.  NB: Even if you fully insure, note that a large proportion of courier companies specifically exclude liability in connection with artwork (loss, damage, or destruction thereof).

They will of course take your money, plus any extra for the insurance cover. But if a problem later arises and you then file a claim, it is at that moment they will point you to the relevant exclusion clause in the fine print of their contract.

In short, read with due care any shipping agreement you enter into. And if you cannot be bothered, stick with shippers that specialise in transporting fine art and antiques.


2.  If you're based in Tennessee, see what pops up when you Google "art shippers Tennessee".

Then pick up the phone and make a few calls, ensuring you have to hand the dimensions and weight of your parcel, along with the collection address, destination address, and a list of special requirements you may have — including insurance, your preferred timetable and, if needed, the construction of a bespoke crate.


3.  Get in touch with museums and high-end art galleries in your city or state. Ask them whom they use/recommend for transporting artwork.


4.  Consider the alternative option of getting your buyer to arrange for the collection and shipment of the artwork with a shipper they have confidence in. You could even offer them a small discount in the purchase price for their troubles.

If anything then goes awry during the shipping process, it will be the buyer's responsibility, not yours — since the transfer of risk will have occurred at the moment when the buyer's shippers removed the artwork from your premises (perhaps after having first inspected the art for any damage).


5.  Good luck.

Jan 20, 2023 0:31:10 GMT 1 Grillocracy said:

So I need to ship a piece within the US valued at $15,000 and have never sent anything that expensive before. I've been trying to make sense of the max amount I can insure a package for via FedEx or UPS and it seems like neither come close to $15k. 

Can anyone recommend how to do it, perhaps alternative shipping companies? I don't want it to end up damaged (though it is packed pretty bulletproof) or have it turn up missing and be left having to reimburse the buyer.

1.  NB: Even if you fully insure, note that a large proportion of courier companies specifically exclude liability in connection with artwork (loss, damage, or destruction thereof).

They will of course take your money, plus any extra for the insurance cover. But if a problem later arises and you then file a claim, it is at that moment they will point you to the relevant exclusion clause in the fine print of their contract.

In short, read with due care any shipping agreement you enter into. And if you cannot be bothered, stick with shippers that specialise in transporting fine art and antiques.


2.  If you're based in Tennessee, see what pops up when you Google "art shippers Tennessee".

Then pick up the phone and make a few calls, ensuring you have to hand the dimensions and weight of your parcel, along with the collection address, destination address, and a list of special requirements you may have — including insurance, your preferred timetable and, if needed, the construction of a bespoke crate.


3.  Get in touch with museums and high-end art galleries in your city or state. Ask them whom they use/recommend for transporting artwork.


4.  Consider the alternative option of getting your buyer to arrange for the collection and shipment of the artwork with a shipper they have confidence in. You could even offer them a small discount in the purchase price for their troubles.

If anything then goes awry during the shipping process, it will be the buyer's responsibility, not yours — since the transfer of risk will have occurred at the moment when the buyer's shippers removed the artwork from your premises (perhaps after having first inspected the art for any damage).


5.  Good luck.