How We Pack and Ship Hand-Painted Paintings Worldwide

How a painting is packed

This part never changes. The same materials and the same steps for every order, trade or private.

01

Rolled, unframed

The cured, varnished canvas is rolled paint-side out around a wide-diameter core, interleaved with acid-free tissue, and sealed in a rigid tube. The cheapest way to ship internationally; stretched and framed at destination.

02

Framed, in a wooden crate

Stretched or framed pieces travel in a custom plywood crate built to the painting's dimensions, with foam blocks holding the frame away from every wall of the crate.

03

Moisture barrier

Every piece is wrapped in glassine or acid-free tissue, then a polyethylene moisture barrier, before it goes into the tube or the crate.

04

Corner protection

Framed corners take the impacts. Each gets a moulded corner protector and the frame is braced so it cannot shift.

05

Outer box and labels

Fragile and this-way-up labels, the tracking label, and — for trade orders — nothing that identifies the studio. Your label or card can be included inside.

From order to dispatch

1.Quote confirmed, deposit received, painting starts.
2.Painting finished; drying and curing — never rushed.
3.Digital proof sent: straight-on and raking-light photos. Adjustments if needed.
4.Proof approved, balance paid. Varnish applied and cured.
5.Framing if ordered. The piece is photographed a final time before packing.
6.Packed as above. Shipping quoted across our carrier network for that size and destination.
7.Dispatched with tracking; the tracking number goes to you (trade orders: to you, never to your customer directly).

How we keep the cost down

Each shipment is quoted across a network of more than 200 carrier and forwarder channels — express couriers, consolidated air freight and, for large crated pieces, specialist art shippers — and we choose the competitive option for that size and destination that week. The saving is passed on; it is one of the four reasons our prices are what they are.

Rolled by default for trade orders unless framed is requested
Several pieces to one address consolidated into one shipment
Accurate customs paperwork to avoid clearance delays
No shipping-cost calculator on the site, because it would have to lie

The honest answer

Why no one can quote you an exact shipping cost upfront

Any site that shows a fixed international shipping price for original art is either averaging (and overcharging most people) or hiding the real cost in the painting. Five variables move the number:

Size and volumetric weight

Couriers charge by dimensional weight. A 24 × 36 in framed piece in a crate is billed as a large parcel even though it is light; the same painting rolled is a fraction of the volume.

Framed or rolled

A crate can cost several times a tube to ship, and needs a courier that will take a crate at all. This single choice changes the cost more than anything else.

Destination and route

Rates differ by country, by region within a country, and by whether the address is residential or commercial. The same weight to Germany and to Australia are different quotes.

Customs, duties and clearance

Import duty and VAT on original art vary by country and are billed by the destination authorities, not by us. We declare accurately and provide the paperwork; we cannot predict the clearance time.

Carrier capacity and season

Rates move weekly. November and December are slower and more expensive on every route.

What we do instead: quote your piece to your address before you confirm, and put the quote in writing.

If something arrives damaged

It is rare, because of the packing above, but it happens to every shipper eventually. Photograph the outer box or crate and the painting before doing anything else, and contact us within 48 hours of delivery with the photos. We repaint, repair or replace at our cost and handle the carrier claim ourselves; you are not asked to argue with a courier.

Actual transit times vary by destination, carrier and customs clearance.

Shipping FAQ

Can you tell me the shipping cost before I order?

Yes — as a quote for your specific piece and address, before you confirm. What we cannot do is publish a flat rate, because size, framed-or-rolled, destination and the week's carrier rates change the answer several times over.

How long does shipping take?

It varies by destination, carrier and customs clearance, so we confirm a typical range per order and send tracking the day the piece leaves. We do not promise fixed transit days anywhere on this site, because no one can honestly.

Is rolled or framed better?

Rolled is cheaper to ship and safer in transit; you stretch and frame locally. Framed arrives ready to hang. Trade buyers with a framer usually choose rolled; private buyers often choose framed for the convenience.

What happens if the painting is damaged in transit?

Photograph the outer packaging and the painting before doing anything else, and contact us within 48 hours of delivery. We repaint, repair or replace at our cost and handle the carrier claim ourselves.

Who pays import duty?

The recipient, to their own customs authority, as with any international purchase. We declare accurately. Many countries apply a reduced VAT rate to original works of art; your customs authority can confirm the rate for yours.

Ask for a shipping quote with your price list

Tell us the sizes you expect to order and the countries you ship to, and we include typical shipping ranges with the trade price list.

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