How to package and ship your pottery and other artwork safely

3/14/2022

All artists are confronted one or other time with shipping of their work. Often they end up disappointed and discouraged. The success of any shipping of artwork, start with the artist self. Too often they will spend expensive materials and dedicated time to the art process, but ship the work off to its destination as an afterthought.

Artists tend to work to the very last minute before the work must be shipped. Trying to save money and time to ship the work as well as last minute neglect is just what is needed to waste weeks and months of hard work.
To pack and ship safely and at the best possible pricing is just as much an art as it is to do the work itself. The only difference is that art comes from the heart and mind, whereas savvy packing and shipping comes from knowledge.

The right packing materials for shipping artwork

Packing materials are expensive and when I started to collect my old packing materials, Koos was not too happy with me. After all it takes up storing space, but the first time that I sent him to the store to buy a container with Styrofoam peanuts, his complaints stopped.

Does that mean that one must keep old packing materials unconditionally?
The answer is no. Packing materials wear out. After a few uses, bubble wrap will not be bubbles anymore and will become useless, especially when you are shipping heavier work, or work that have spouts and handles.

Good sturdy packing materials is a must, otherwise you stand a chance to get your work broken.
The human factor must always be kept in mind. There are people that may handle packages that does not understand the contents thereof. Accidents and possibilities that package will be dropped, thrown, hit or otherwise mishandled by any shipper must be expected.

Saved up packing materials ( a cats heaven!)

Use the right box

On every box is information, normally on the bottom, is a stamp that gives the actual size of the box as well as well as a manufacturers stamp that identifies the kind of material of the box as single wall, double wall or triple wall. It also identifies strength of the boxes by the kind of tests done. These tests reveal the stacking strength, and the ability to carry heavy objects. These tests are known as “Mullen Test" and "Edge Crush Test”.
A single wall 200# test box is suitable to handle multiple objects with a collective weight of less than 65 lbs. (29 kg), especially when smaller boxes are stacked inside.
In the case of single heavy objects, it is better to limit the weight to 45 lbs. (20 kg) or to use a box that can handle more weight

Check for the type of box that you are using.

How to pack a box with pottery.

Strengthen the box with Styrofoam sheets

People often ask me how do I ship my fine translucent porcelain to galleries and clients without damage in transit. Well, I had my fair share of broken pieces in my lifetime of creating pottery, so I would like to share some of the things that I have learned over the years with you.
I use the double boxing method.
Start by lining a sturdy box with Styrofoam sheets.
An alternative is regular upholstery foam or Styrofoam peanuts. When the option of peanuts is used, line the bottom of the box, place the second box in place and fill the voids up with Styrofoam peanuts.

I use the double boxing method.
Start by lining a sturdy box with Styrofoam sheets.
An alternative is regular upholstery foam or Styrofoam peanuts. When the option of peanuts is used, line the bottom of the box, place the second box in place and fill the voids up with Styrofoam peanuts.

Double boxing is the standard to ship artwork.

Some areas on my bowls needs special attention. Outstanding edges and foot rims may need extra protection. For those areas I create a cushion with anything soft available.

Available in the shop. Click on the image to see it there.

Protect the edges.

Create the cushion by either double or triple the bubble wrap in that specific area. Upholstery foam can also be useful for special protection. Start by wrapping each item separately in bubble wrap. The thicker the better, but at least with a double layer of standard bubbles.
Wrap spouts and handles separately by creating a cushion.
Lids can be packed separately, but from personal experience I like to keep them in place and secure them with bubble wrap and tape on the teapot.

Once every outstanding parts on the pot is secure, I cover it with a single piece of bubble wrap.

Use a light tacky tape to hold the wrap together. You can also use clingwrap. In that way it is easier to open and safe the bubble wrap for either return packaging or for re-use later.

The use of corrugated carton paper

Corrugated carton keep the work sturdy.

This is how I use corrugated paper rolls to create a "box"

One of my biggest frustrations in the past was boxes that are either too big or too small. Too small may let your work bulge out of boxes. Too big waste valuable space and money. So when I discovered corrugated wrap roles, I was very happy. That means I can custom box wrap each piece by itself and then place it inside a larger box.

Wrap a big enough sheet around the padded object to form a sleeve around the pot. Cut slits in the bottom part of the paper.

Fit the carton around the work.

Fold it in to form a sturdy platform for the pot to rest on.

Secure artwork from all sides.

Tape it together with 2 or 3 strips of tape so that it secure the platform from all sides

Clear buff tape holds it together.

Most of the time there will be open areas in and around the object that needs to be secured. Anything from soft plastic or paper to foam and bubble wrap and Styrofoam peanuts can be used to fill these voids

Make sure the artwork is tightly packed.

Cut slits on the other side of the paper sleeve and fold it in.

Secure the whole package with tape.

It is useful for the sender as well as the receiver of the pottery when every piece is marked with at least a name, but even better when a reference number from the invoice is provided.
In that way, the sender can double check if everything that is on the invoice is ready to be packed.
The receiver can double check what is received, but in case of work that must later be returned after an exhibition, the same packaging material can be used again, making it easier to pack the piece in a custom made packaging, and also to check if everything that was sent out, is received back in good condition.

Mark the carton with an invoice number and if needed tape an image around the sleeve to tell exactly what is included.

The harder shell from corrugated box paper, or small boxes around each piece keeps it separate and secure from each other. Pack the enclosed objects inside the double box.

Use peanuts, confined in a bag, or air pillows.

Most galleries and shops do not have a big place to unwrap packages. Styrofoam peanuts flying around in the destination of your package can be seen as inconsiderate.
Plastic bags filled with Styrofoam peanuts will help to prevent it from flying around in a gallery.

Add any soft plastic or other materials already mentioned to level the content in the box. Air pillows is also useful.

Air pillows will be very effective.

Once the interior box is full, secure the lid tight.

Styrofoam sheets and any other paper or plastic or bubble plastic can be used to secure the upper side of the box. Do not allow any room for objects shifting around inside the box. After an invoice sheet is added to the box, it is ready to be taped. When the box is filled, the lid must appear level, sturdy and tight.

Tape and secure the box to make it ready for shipping.

It is useful to inform the galleries of the way that you pack your boxes. Most galleries that either work on consignment or that present an exhibition would keep the packing materials for re-use. They train their staff to pack and unpack artwork and it is helpful for them to understand the process that you are using.
I will appreciate it if you share your expertise with packing of valuable objects with me. There are many other types of art work that must be shipped. There are sculptures and other valuables, much heavier objects that must be shipped.
I know that crating artwork and furniture is a complete different topic to cover. Maybe a guest blogger would like to chime in.

Links: Available artwork

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