Moving and Packing Sculptures and Statues
If you have decided to pack yourself, and not use a professional packing and moving company, when you're packing for your move, you're bound to encounter some items that are harder to pack than others. Some are big and heavy like large appliances, some are delicate and fragile like fine china and glasses, and some fall into both categories like sculptures and statues. These special items typically require a lot more attention, as they mean more to us.
Sculptures and statues are works of art that can be very delicate and easily damaged if not taken care of properly, so it's important to protect them with the right amount of packaging and wrapping when you're getting ready to move. Any way you look at it, packing these items is one of the hardest and most cumbersome parts of the packing process. Sculptures and statues tend to all be very different from each other, often with unique and unusual shapes which make them difficult to pack and move to your new location without any scratches or damages.
In order to protect them as much as possible while keeping them intact, you must pack them perfectly. Your collection of sculptures or statues likely holds a lot of value to you, whether it is monetary value or sentimental value, or even both, and they can be an elegant addition to your home. Hence, they must be packed the correct way and treated with a lot of care. This guide will provide you with a step-by-step procedure on how to pack your sculptures and statues like a pro, while ensuring the safety of your collection during your move.
As with packing and wrapping anything of value, it is always best to have a clear idea on how to pack them before you begin the packing process. This can save you a lot of time and headaches down the road and you'll go into the process with a clear-cut and concise plan on how to go about packing your valuable sculptures and statues.
Anything you can do to lessen the stress of moving is helpful, and if you can plan and prepare for your packing well in advance of your move, you can accomplish everything you need to do without the fear of becoming overwhelmed by your impending move date. Before you start packing the sculptures and statues, first make an inventory of your whole collection so that you will have a complete idea of the items that you have to pack, as well as the quantities of packing materials that you'll require for the packing.
Things you'll need: For packing sculptures and statues, you should have these supplies: bubble wrap, a box, which is bigger in size than the item, tape and shredded paper or packing peanuts.
Identify the size: To pack the sculptures like a pro you will first need to identify the size of the sculpture. If it is possible to dissemble it, then dissemble it into two or more parts and remove all the bolts and pins attached to it. Then makes sure to pack each part properly by following the steps in order to provide them with the maximum protection. If the sculpture is small in size and can directly fit into one of the boxes, then there is no need to dissemble it and you can wrap and pack it as you would normally do.
Use an appropriate box: Take a box which is bigger than the size of the sculpture itself or one that can hold each of the separate parts of the sculpture if you chose to take it apart in order to pack it. This will allow the statue to fit inside the box without any issues. Also keep in mind that as you wrap the sculpture or statue with packing wraps, newspapers, or bubble wrap it will significantly increase the size of the item.
Bubble wrap: Once you get the right box that fits your statue, you can now start wrapping it with bubble wrap, packing wrap, newsprint or whatever other materials you've obtained to wrap your statue or sculpture and keep it protected during the move. To do this, simply wrap the upper half of the sculpture or statue twice, all the way around, and then seal it with packing tape. Then, wrap the bottom half of the sculpture twice as well and seal it with packing tape. Make sure to remember to cover the middle of the sculpture or statue as well, and wrap the part where the two halves meet, covering up any gap in the wrapping and keeping every inch protected. It is also important to remember to pack them very cautiously, as the very delicate designs of some sculpture and statues can damage quite easily if they are jostled around during the move. At last, reinforce the bubble wrap with the help of some packing tape and seal it properly at each end.
Fill the empty space: Place the wrapped statue in an upright position inside the box that you have chosen for it. Then, fill one-third of the empty space inside the box with shredded paper or with packing peanuts to create a buffer that will protect the sculpture or statue while it's in transit. This is in order to ensure that the sculpture doesn't move too much inside the box during its shipment, which can damage it.
Once everything is done, shut the box and seal it with packing tape. Finally, remember to label it "Fragile" on the box. This will let your movers know that they should handle the box with care during the move.
If this turns out to be to big a task be sure to consider your local professional who has done this many times over and would be pleased to assist you.
Denver, Colorado