How to ship art, large paintings, and signage safely from Singapore

Artworks like paintings, sculptures, and signage represent immense cultural, creative, and financial value. As such, when shipping these irreplaceable pieces internationally, it’s critical to ensure that their value and integrity are preserved in transit.

However, if you run a gallery or regularly deal with artworks, you’ll likely be familiar with the international shipping challenges posed by their fragility, unique sizes, and complex customs requirements. Successfully mitigating these challenges requires specialized knowledge and meticulous preparation.

In this article, we’ll guide you through the process and show you how a trusted logistics service provider like DHL Express can make shipping art internationally a smooth and successful venture.

What makes art and signage challenging to ship?

Shipping artwork like large framed paintings and signage presents a unique set of challenges:

• Fragility: Artworks like paintings and sculptures are highly susceptible to damage from impacts and vibrations, requiring extensive internal and external protective padding.
• Large and irregular dimensions: Many artworks exceed standard box sizes and weight limits, necessitating custom crating.
• High value: The high financial and sentimental value of these pieces demands careful insurance coverage and heightened security protocols to mitigate the risks of loss or theft during transit.
• Climate sensitivity: Canvases, prints, and painted surfaces are vulnerable to temperature and humidity fluctuations. As such, they require specialized protective packaging to prevent warping or cracking.

Due to these factors, improper packaging can lead to significant costs, delays, and damage when shipping artworks.

The best way to ship artwork and signage

When packing and shipping artwork, such as large paintings or irregularly-sized signage, the best approach involves robust packaging, clear labeling, and careful fragile handling. In the following sections, we’ll explore how to ship these delicate items safely.

Package items securely 

Robust, multi-layered packaging is vital when packing fragile items for shipping. In doing so, you mitigate the risk of damage to the artworks caused by vibration and impact during transport. 

Here is how to pack a large painting, sculpture, or signage for shipping:

1. Start with a moisture barrier: Wrap the artwork in glassine paper or plastic sheeting to protect it from humidity and potential water damage.
2. Wrap the item in bubble wrap: Use multiple layers of bubble wrap for shock absorption, ensuring the flat side of the wrap faces the artwork to avoid leaving impressions on the surface.
3. Place the item in a sturdy external package: Use a strong, double-walled corrugated packaging box to help the package withstand external pressure. For larger, heavier, or more valuable pieces, a specialized custom crate may be useful. 
4. Fill the package with a buffer material: Fill all empty space in the box with materials like foam inserts and packing peanuts. This step prevents internal movement, protecting the artwork from sudden shifts.

Affix the appropriate labels

Clear and visible labels are essential when shipping fragile items, like artworks, internationally, as they provide critical instructions to everyone handling your parcel. Use the following types of fragile labels for shipping as necessary:

• Fragile: This label alerts couriers that the contents are delicate and require extra care to prevent damage from impact or rough movement.
• Handle With Care: A universal message reinforcing the need for fragile handling throughout the logistics chain, reminding personnel to treat the package gently.
• This Side Up: Crucial for items sensitive to orientation, this label ensures the package remains upright, preventing the contents from settling incorrectly.

Ensure temperature-controlled shipping

As paint, canvas, wood, paper, and other adhesives are sensitive to temperature and humidity, it’s important to maintain the appropriate environmental conditions when shipping artwork. 

By ensuring proper control, you can prevent your valuable pieces from damage, such as cracking, warping, mold growth, and fading. 

If your shipment involves long-haul journeys, tropical climates, or seasonal extremes, it’s highly advisable to leverage temperature-controlled shipping with the help of professional artwork shipping service providers. 

For example, at DHL Express, our temperature-controlled transportation solutions, including refrigerated vehicles and active shipping containers, keep your artworks in pristine condition throughout their journey. We also uphold industry standards in handling and monitoring the shipments, providing peace of mind that your items are in good hands.

Paperwork required when shipping art internationally

1. Commercial invoice

The commercial invoice is an essential document for all international shipping and customs purposes. This mandatory invoice must include:

• A clear and detailed item description specifying the materials used.
• The item’s declared value, even if it has no commercial value. For instance, if the artwork is for exhibition only, you will still need to state its value for customs assessment.

2. Certificate of authenticity

Certificates of authenticity (COA) validate the artworks’ genuineness. For certain artworks, especially older, rarer, or high-value pieces, a COA may be required to verify their origin and provenance. 

COAs vary in specificity, but they should generally contain the following details:

• Artist's name
• Date of creation
• Signature

You can typically obtain the certificate directly from the artist, a gallery, or an accredited appraiser. 

3. Insurance for high-value items

When you ship art, base shipping liability is often insufficient to cover the true value of your pieces, as it may only cover the shipping cost. 

Therefore, you should purchase comprehensive, full-value insurance to protect your valuable artworks against financial loss from damage or total loss during transit.

Common mistakes to avoid

On top of following the best practices outlined above, you should also aim to avoid several pitfalls in shipping artworks internationally:

• Using flimsy or inappropriate packing materials: Never use materials like newspaper, as the ink can transfer onto canvases or prints. Instead, invest in high-quality packaging supplies and specialized packaging for the artworks.
• Overlooking climate or temperature sensitivity: Always consider the transit environment for materials like wood and paint, and use climate-controlled options if the journey involves extreme or fluctuating temperatures.
• Ignoring the destination’s import regulations: Research the recipient country’s regulations and permit requirements to ensure compliance before shipping art or signage over.
• Under-declaring value on customs paperwork: Always declare the item's true value on your commercial invoice to avoid the risks of fines, item seizure, and insurance policy invalidation.
• Skipping comprehensive insurance: Instead of relying on base liability, always purchase full-value insurance to protect your pieces against damage or loss in transit.

Ship artwork confidently with DHL Express

Shipping artwork like paintings, sculptures, and signage requires extra care, accurate documentation, and specialized logistics expertise.

While preparing to ship art might seem like a significant undertaking, professional artwork packing and shipping services, such as those provided by DHL Express, can help you ensure a smooth and successful shipping experience.

Through our experienced experts, controlled-temperature transportation options, and established international shipping network, we ensure a safe and reliable delivery for all your creative and commercial shipments.