What are fine art couriers?

Here at Rock Solid Deliveries we have experience at dealing with a wealth of deliveries and courier items. We are particular experts in dealing with fragile items or ones which are sensitive and bespoke. Clicking the link will show further details of this. Within that range of fragile items, the scope covers many areas, including fine art deliveries. In our latest blog post we’ll take a closer at when you may need a fine art courier and what it involves.

Pieces of art and general fine art works can be amongst some of the most valuable items that a person may own or desire to possess. If these need to be transported in any way, then it is vitally important that they are being sent with someone you trust and who can guarantee a first-class service. Rock Solid Deliveries have substantial experience and are best placed to honour these requirements.

What exactly is fine art?

Ever walked around a museum lately? There are literally hundreds of items and all of these constitute artwork in some way. You may also think about a previous experience to an art gallery and recall that there is often more than just paintings on display – all these too are covered within the fine art family.

When it comes to ourselves and the courier industry generally, some of the most popular fine art items dealt with (including those from past personal experience) include the types of the following:

* Photos, paintings or other artwork.

* Sculptures.

* Pottery and China.

* Textiles (e.g. tapestries.)

* Jewellery.

* Antiques.

The following are general circumstances when either a fine art courier service might be useful, or when we have been approached in the past to provide this service:

* Use by large art organisations that require transportation services.

* Use by individual or group artists which are looking for a way to get artwork and pieces delivered to events like galleries or exhibitions.

* A bespoke fine art / collectables service, which covers valuable items.

* Same day courier transportation of art works or goods.

What does a fine art courier actually do?

Fine art is a beautiful thing. The beauty of it is down to the fact that high levels of care and skill go into making the art items. Fine art covers a wide-ranging area and we will look closer at some of the things in this posting. It will probably come as no surprise for you to learn that many pieces of fine art are expensive and often irreplaceable, making it absolutely critical that they are handled in the correct way. Whenever any of these pieces have a need to be transported or moved, it is very important that a fine art courier with considerable skill and care should be chosen to undertake the task. This will lower the risk of any damage occurring, whilst preserving the item and it’s value in the best way possible. Our latest blog post will take a closer look at this.

Some specific tips for art transportation.

1) Ensure you check your item completely and take photographs as evidence of their condition. We guarantee that your fine art will arrive in the condition it is sent, but we recommend this for extra piece of mind.

2) Paintings and artwork can be easily subject to marks, cracks and discolouration. Whilst in our van, we will take the very best care, but we advise that these kinds of situations are mitigated against before sending.

3) Fine art doesn’t just cover traditional artwork and paintings, but the scope can be expanded to include pottery, sculptures or textile pieces. These will need their own specific care when packaging and handling. We are ALWAYS aware of what we are carrying (in your own dedicated van) so we can adapt our care and skill to suit.

What makes a fine art courier different?

All couriers need to take care in their business to ensure they satisfy customers and do not lose items or get their clients parcels damaged. When it comes to fine art, this is the number one requirement. Anyone can realistically be a courier, but only someone with the right skill set can be a fine art courier. A way to try and find this is to look out for a company that has been established for many years, and who specifically mentions they have experience in fine art delivery.

Fine art couriers will move artwork in a wide variety of circumstances to different venues associated with the field. This would include to places such as museums, art galleries, auction houses, or storage facilities. Rock Solid Deliveries can also offer this service to personal customers who may only need to use it once, or businesses / organisations that require transportation of fine art on a regular basis.

The key to finding someone who specialises or has experience in fine art delivery is an appreciation in the understanding of what the couriers’ role is. Any reputable company should be aware that many fine art items are valuable, personal and truly priceless. The aim is to treat the items as if they were your own, but this is a bear minimum standard and better couriers will recognise that extra steps need to be taken. In practical terms, this would include things like being mindful of the size and type of van used for the art transportation, or the level of in-transit protective material that is placed around the items to keep them secure and damage free. The best fine art couriers will understand that transporting fine art can be amongst some of the most stressful things to transit for a customer. This is why they should offer full tracking and a comprehensive insurance level to alleviate some of the customers worries or fears.

Remember at Rock Solid Deliveries, no job is too small, so whether you are looking to transport a single art piece somewhere local, or an entire collection further afield, our dedicated team can ensure you get quick and fast delivery in the most careful way. Reading a customers review page or the courier’s Trustpilot site, can give you an insight into whether anyone has enlisted them for these services before and what they have experienced. If you are sending fine art, you’ll be thankful you did this!