Storage & transport

How to Pack Antiquities for a Move or Shipping

A house move is the most dangerous week in the life of a home collection. Objects that have sat safely on a shelf for years are suddenly wrapped by tired hands, stacked in a van, left in a hot storage unit and unpacked in a hurry.

This guide walks through packing ancient objects properly, whether you are moving house, sending something to a conservator, or shipping a piece you've sold. It also covers the paperwork side, because a box that crosses a border carries legal obligations along with the object.

Before you pack: the record

Packing is the moment most likely to cause damage and the moment you're least likely to remember what condition things were in. Spend an hour on records first.

Photograph each object from several sides, with close-ups of existing cracks, chips, repairs and old labels. The guide to photographing the back, base and breaks covers the angles.
Assign each object an inventory number and note which box it goes into.
Make a box list: box number, contents, fragility, "this side up".
Pull paperwork (invoices, provenance files, appraisals) and keep it with you, not in the moving van.
Call your insurer about cover during transit and in temporary storage, and get the answer in writing.
Check that each provenance file is complete before it travels; how to read a provenance file explains what belongs in one.

Packing materials: use and avoid

Use	Why	Avoid	Why
Acid-free, unbuffered tissue	Clean first layer; won't transfer ink or acids.	Newspaper	Ink transfers; acidic.
Polyethylene foam sheet and blocks	Inert, cushioning, can be cut to shape.	Bubble wrap against surfaces	Can imprint soft or flaking surfaces and trap moisture. Use it only over tissue, as an outer layer.
New double-wall cardboard boxes	Stronger and less likely to crush.	Used grocery boxes	Weakened walls, unknown contamination.
Rigid inner box or small crate	Isolates the object from impacts.	Loose packing peanuts directly around an object	Objects migrate through them and can end up against the box wall.
Labelled zip bags	Hold detached fragments, lids and small parts.	Adhesive tape on objects	Can lift paint, slip and corrosion when removed.

Acid-free tissue Polyethylene foam on eBay Double-wall boxes

Wrapping step by step

Remove loose parts. Lids, stoppers, stands and mounts are wrapped separately and labelled so they can be reunited.
Pad weak points first. Fill the inside of vessels loosely with crumpled tissue for support. Add small pads of tissue around handles, spouts, rims and projecting parts.
Wrap in tissue. Several layers, snug but not tight. For flaking or fragile surfaces, use a loose "pillow" of tissue and avoid pressure.
Add a padding layer. Polyethylene foam, or bubble wrap over the tissue with the bubbles facing outward. Secure the padding to itself, never to the object.
Box it. Place the wrapped object in a small inner box with foam on every side so it cannot move.
Box the box. Put the inner box into a larger outer box with a generous layer of cushioning all round: underneath, on every side and on top. Nothing should touch the outer walls.
Shake test. Close the outer box and tilt it gently. If anything shifts, add more padding.
Label clearly. Box number, "fragile", "this side up" arrows on several faces. Avoid writing what is inside on the outside of the box.

Round-bottomed vessels and figurines travel best in a foam cradle cut to their shape, so the weight is supported along the body instead of at one point. The same approach suits broken objects whose old repairs may fail.

Special cases

Ancient metals: wrap in tissue, then pack with a small sachet of dry silica gel in the inner box if the journey is long or humid. Don't let gel touch the object.
Glass: treat weathered surfaces as fragile. Use a loose tissue pillow and foam cradle, never bubble wrap against the glass.
Stone and heavy objects: pack individually, keep boxes small enough to lift safely, and mark "heavy".
Framed objects or textiles: follow a textile or framing specialist's guidance, as these have their own risks.

Who moves it: you, general movers or art handlers

Option	Good for	Watch out for
You carry it	Small, valuable or very fragile objects; local moves.	Hot or cold cars; unattended vehicles; securing boxes against sliding.
General household movers	Robust pieces you have packed yourself, well documented.	Their liability limits may be low for high-value items; ask what is covered and how claims work.
Fine art shippers and handlers	Significant objects, long distances, international moves.	Ask about their experience with ancient material, their packing approach and their insurance.
Parcel carriers	Sending a modest, robust object you've sold or are sending to a conservator.	Many carriers restrict antiques and fine art or cap declared value. Read their terms before shipping.

Wherever objects go, avoid leaving them in a vehicle or a storage unit through extreme heat or cold. Temperature swings also swing humidity inside boxes.

Crossing a border

Moving or shipping an antiquity internationally is not just a packing question. The country it leaves may require an export licence for cultural goods, and the country it enters may restrict import of certain archaeological material or require documentation of lawful export. Objects containing protected species materials, such as ivory or tortoiseshell, can fall under separate wildlife trade rules.

Declare it accurately. Customs declarations must describe the object truthfully, including that it is an antiquity, its origin and its value. Describing an ancient object as a "replica", "souvenir" or "decorative item" to avoid scrutiny is a false declaration and can lead to seizure and penalties. If an object needs a licence you don't have, it doesn't travel until you have it.

Rules change and vary between countries. Check the current position with customs and cultural-property authorities in both countries before you book anything, and keep copies of all licences and declarations with the object's file. The guide on small object, large legal risk explains why even tiny pieces attract attention.

If you are selling and shipping to a buyer, the same rules apply to you as the sender. Check the marketplace's prohibited and restricted items policy before listing.

Sending an object to a conservator or specialist

Sometimes the reason to ship is the object's own welfare: conservation, a scientific test or a specialist opinion. A few extra steps help.

Agree on shipping arrangements with the conservator before packing. Many have preferences, and some will recommend an art shipper.
Include a printed sheet in the box with your name, contact details, the inventory number, the reason for sending and a note of any existing damage.
Pack loose fragments separately in labelled bags inside the same inner box.
Confirm insurance while the object is in transit and while it is on the conservator's premises.
Ask for a written condition report on arrival, and keep it with the object's file.

Unpacking

Unpack on a padded table, one box at a time, with the box list in hand.
Lift wrapped objects out by supporting them from below, not by the wrapping.
Unwrap slowly and check every sheet of tissue for fragments before discarding it.
Compare each object against your pre-move photos, and photograph any new damage immediately for the claim.
Let objects acclimatise before going into sealed cases if they have come from a very different temperature.
Keep good packing materials and the foam cradles for the next move.

Short of a crate, a sturdy plastic tote with a lid makes a reusable outer box for local moves: heavy-duty totes.

FAQ

Can I use bubble wrap for antiquities?

Only as an outer layer over acid-free tissue, with bubbles facing outward. Bubble wrap pressed directly against a soft, painted or flaking surface can leave impressions and trap moisture.

Should I let movers pack my antiquities?

For valuable or fragile ancient objects, pack them yourself or use fine art handlers with relevant experience. Check any mover's liability limits and your own insurance for transit cover.

Can I mail an antiquity overseas?

Possibly, but export and import rules may apply, and many carriers restrict or limit cover for antiques. Check customs and cultural-property requirements in both countries, get any needed licence, and declare the object accurately.

What do I do if something arrives broken?

Stop unpacking that box, photograph everything including the packaging, collect all fragments, don't glue anything, and contact your insurer or the carrier promptly. Then consult a conservator.

The essentials

Record condition before you pack, wrap in tissue before padding, double box with cushioning on every side, and carry the smallest and most precious objects yourself. Read carrier and insurance terms before shipping, and treat border paperwork as part of packing: accurate, complete and in hand before anything moves. Most packing damage is avoidable, and almost all of it happens when people rush.