Transporting a work of art is not the same as shipping a parcel. It means entrusting a logistics provider with something that is often irreplaceable. A painting, sculpture, design piece, or collectible combines artistic, emotional, and financial value that no standard logistics solution can adequately protect. This is precisely why WES has spent the past 30 years developing a packaging approach entirely centred around the artwork itself.
Our work does not begin in the workshop. It begins at the consignor's location.
Before any collection takes place, a condition report is established on site. The artwork is carefully inspected and photographed from every angle in its original condition, before any packaging is applied. These records are then transmitted to our office for validation before the process continues.
This systematic procedure protects everyone involved: the consignor, the recipient, and the artwork itself. Nothing is left to chance.
There is no universal crate for fine art.
A canvas on a stretcher frame, a framed painting, a sculpture, a glass-covered artwork, or a piece displayed between two sheets of glass all require different solutions, each with its own protection, stability, and handling requirements.
At WES, every package is custom-built according to the exact dimensions of the artwork. Our wooden crates are designed with appropriate protective margins for each format and systematically incorporate anti-tip systems.
Internal protective materials, including foam, polystyrene, and bubble wrap, are selected according to the nature and fragility of each piece.
For artworks containing glass, specific protective measures are applied from the workshop stage, and the glass receives dedicated intermediate packaging within the crate itself.
Nothing is left to chance, including the stability of the crate based on its dimensions and proportions.
At every stage of the process, from arrival at the workshop to internal packaging, crating, and final closure, photographic documentation is produced.
The completed crate is photographed with all markings clearly visible, including the consignor and recipient details, ISPM 15 phytosanitary compliance markings, and shock and tilt indicators.
Transport documents are signed at every transfer of responsibility.
This level of traceability provides protection not only for our clients but also meets the requirements of insurers, galleries, museums, and cultural institutions.
All artwork shipments can be covered by ad valorem insurance, calculated according to the declared value of the item.
From our offices in Monaco, Nice, and Paris, located at the heart of major European art markets, we organise local, national, and international transport operations, including the complete management of customs formalities.
Do you have an artwork transportation project?
Contact our team: wescommercial@wes.mc
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