Whether it's for a home, a private collection, or a museum, fine art is in demand across the US. Each year, thousands of pieces are purchased, borrowed, and displayed throughout the country. However, moving fine art can be difficult. This is especially true for particularly valuable or fragile pieces. The good news is that there are plenty of companies that specialize in fine art moving. For those who want to move a piece of art from one location to another, here are three things to take into account.

Crating

Whether it's an oil painting, a statue, or another type of art, it must be packed carefully in order to avoid damage during shipping. The good news is that special crating is available for works of art. The costs can vary depending on the size and composition of the piece. On average, standard size paintings and smaller statues cost between $150 and $260 to crate. Larger pieces and very fragile artwork often require custom-made crating. The cost of a custom crate varies, however, in these cases it's not unusual to pay a few thousand dollars to crate a piece of art for transport.

Cost Of Shipping

When it comes to valuable artwork, more than just the size of the piece is taken into consideration when shipping. The value of the piece itself, whether or not it requires special handling, the distance the piece is being shipped, and other factors are considered when determining the cost of shipping. An oil painting valued at $5,000 will cost between $90 and $238 to ship across the country while a valuable museum piece can cost anywhere from $12,000 to $20,000 to ship across the country. Certain pieces may also require 24 hour security and art handlers throughout the entire transport. The more valuable the fine art, the more expensive it is to ship.

Cost Of Insurance

When shipping a piece of fine art, insurance is a must. The catch is that the cost to insure a valuable or priceless piece of art can be very high. Owners of fine art should look for insurance that covers damage or theft during transport. For very valuable artwork, insurance may be difficult to obtain. There are insurance companies that specialize in insuring artwork. In order to get a policy, it's important to have documents that give a clear indication of ownership and to also have the artwork appraised.

Moving fine art can be a challenge. For those who are looking to move a piece from one place to another, there are a few things to consider. Specialized crating is often needed for fine art pieces. The cost of shipping and the cost of insurance can also be high. Moving a museum quality piece can cost tens of thousands of dollars. 

For more information, contact a business such as M Dyer & Sons Inc.