Art Movers in Dubai: Moving Paintings, Sculpture and Antiques

Start with a condition report

Before anything is wrapped, photograph each work front and back, close up on corners, frames and any existing marks, and note the size and value. A good art mover does this with you and both of you sign it. If something is damaged in the move, that record is what any claim is judged against.

Keep certificates of authenticity, invoices and valuations out of the shipment, in a folder that travels with you.

How different pieces are packed

Framed paintings and prints

Glass is taped in a grid or covered so that if it breaks it does not cut the canvas, corners get protectors, and the frame is wrapped and boxed in a picture carton. Large or valuable paintings go in a made-to-measure wooden crate.

Unframed canvases

Nothing should touch the painted surface. Canvases are wrapped in acid-free material and travel standing on edge, never flat with other items on top.

Sculpture and ceramics

Fragile parts are padded and supported so they cannot move inside the box or crate. Heavy stone or bronze pieces may need lifting gear and are treated like heavy items.

Antique furniture

Drawers are emptied, doors locked or tied, and the piece is padded with blankets that do not mark old finishes. The guide to moving antiques safely goes further.

Heat, humidity and timing

Paintings, wooden frames and antiques react to sudden changes in heat and humidity, which in Dubai means the truck and the loading bay in summer. Ask whether the truck is air-conditioned, load art last and unload it first, and avoid moving valuable pieces in the middle of a summer day. If art must be stored between homes, it needs a climate-controlled store, not a standard container.

Insurance for art and antiques

A mover's standard liability is often limited per item or by weight, which can be far below the value of a painting. Ask for the limit in writing. For valuable works, ask your insurer about fine art or valuables cover for the move, or ask the mover whether it can arrange cover based on a valuation. The moving insurance guide explains the difference between liability and insurance.

What to ask an art mover

• Will you do a signed condition report before and after the move?
• Which pieces do you recommend crating, and what will the crates cost?
• Is the truck air-conditioned, and will the art go straight from home to home?
• Do you hang art and mirrors at the new home, with the right fixings for the wall?
• What is your liability limit per item, in writing?

What an art moving quote depends on

Number and size of pieces

Large canvases and sculpture take more people and space.

Crating

Made-to-measure crates add material and workshop time.

Value and cover

Higher values may mean more careful handling and extra insurance.

Hanging

Hanging art and mirrors at the new home is often a separate charge.

Moving art along with the rest of a large home? The heavy item movers guide covers stone sculpture and marble, and the specialty moving overview shows how these items are quoted.