Wrapping an 1841 Oil Painting

Well . . . there wasn't much time for Etsy love yesterday . . . I was asked to wrap a large (27 x 37 inch) Oil Painting, signed and dated 1841. Very valuable too (no pressure!).

Personally I think such a valuable piece should be professionally shipped. I looked into the best local shipping sources for large and difficult items to mail. The answer I was given was the painting needs to be crated. This company looks great http://www.gonavis.com/ . I think a crate is the way to go.

Have you ever seen those images online of the inside of a UPS truck at Christmas time? Very scary. Parcels on the floor, upside down, split open and bouncing it seems. So . . . . I phoned the buyer in Beverley Hills (yep, the 90210) and recommended the custom crate. Nope . . . . UPS ground is what he wants. I think my new boss (a local auctioneer) needs to state mandatory airmail and professional shipping on her website . . . . and that is my recommendation for immediate implementation. Ya!

But in the mean time . . . little ol' me is shipping a $10K antique oil on canvas painting.

With a delicate plaster frame just to make things really fun!

So this is the cover-my-butt post . . . . seriously : )

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First I wrapped the painting in a clear plastic bag ~ quite snugly so nothing can actually touch the canvas.

Then I wrapped it in bubble wrap with extra folds on the corners.

I asked hubby to cut a custom front and back (crate-like) layer of hard-board from his workshop which we duct-taped to the cardboard on the front and back for added protection.


I stuffed Styrofoam and bubble wrap all around the 3 inch buffer, on all four sides and then it was slid into another box for shipping purposes. Double boxed with hard board in between and 3 inches of bubble wrap all around.


Took me three hours to do!!!! So there ya have it ! The painting will be on its way today for its long journey from Ontario to California. Fingers crossed : )