Category Archives: Transit Insurance

As a Curator, do you buy an Exhibition or Art Dealer policy?

Lately, I have been asked this question by curators that insure Art Exhibitions. There is silence when I ask if you are a curator or dealer. I feel it is essential to distinguish the difference.

An Art Curator has many roles when mounting a show; What is the exhibition about? Is the reason for the show the promotion of the Gallery, Artist, Collection, or yourself? All have a common thread… the “Consignment Agreement.” 

Focusing on the Consignment Agreement terms is where I look to help design the right policy for the show. Usually, this transaction comes with two different approaches to this agreement. When the work is consigned to the show, is it for just show or sale?

If the Artwork being shown is Just for display, an exhibition policy is offered to protect the art for the consignment amount and transit wall-to-wall. Wall-to-wall or Nail-to-Nail has a meaning. To insure Artwork from the time of pick, during transit, storage, exhibition, and on return to the source.

I usually add a few extra days to the policy so the insured is not caught without coverage because Insurance always ends at 12:01 am. Quite often, this will not change the insurance cost. Adding 2 to 3 extra days will take care of any unforeseen delays. 

When the work is for sale, and the curator or venue receives compensation, like a commission, selling fee, or a donation, then the Curator or Venue can be classified as a dealer.

A dealer policy is a year-long policy; the work does not have to be scheduled. There is an established limit for all exhibitions; transit and storage of the art. It works similarly to a collector’s Blanket policy, based on limits, not items. It is covered on a blanket Limit and is not limited to this single exhibition. You will have coverage for all your shows for the year. Also, there is no time restriction for returning the art after the show. It is still a wall-to-wall or nail-to-nail type of policy. As for the cost, it is usually about even with an exhibition-type policy.

In conclusion, both types of policies protect the owner of art in a curated show. Like all Insurance, I recommend reviewing the policy wording to understand the evaluations, limits, conditions, and coverages.

Guide to transporting large-format paintings

Generally speaking, moving to a new home is a challenging process, no matter how many possessions you have. However, moving with valuable and fragile possessions can be even more frustrating and stressful. Transporting your family’s art collection is no easy task because it involves careful and skillful packing, preparations, and planning. For this reason, we have written a guide for transporting large-format paintings so that you have a clearer idea about what you need to pay attention to and what you should expect once you start organizing your move. 

It is definitely true that large paintings, old photos, antique furniture, and decorative items all require special treatment during relocation. There are many things you can do to prevent damages made to the frames or the artwork itself. However, in case you still feel that the necessary ‘packing precautions’ may not be enough to keep your large format paintings secure, we strongly suggest you inquire about art insurance as a backup plan, just in case something goes wrong. 

Place the artwork into appropriately sized boxes.

The first thing you need to pay attention to is the size of the boxes and the paintings. In most cases, small and medium-sized paintings are placed together in large boxes. This is done to prevent friction and the potential shattering of the glass and frames. Therefore, the artwork and the boxes containing the artwork should be stacked and pressed together to minimize movement in the vehicle. 

When it comes to moving larger artwork, the best thing to do is pack each piece in a separate box that is only slightly larger than the painting itself. These specialty boxes have to be carefully chosen and purchased from the supply store well before your relocation. 

You should not improvise with boxes that are larger or smaller. Having a larger box leaves room for movement and potential damages, cuts, and shattered glass, whereas the painting may fall out of a box that is smaller than the painting. 

Tape the glass with an X

If the picture has glass protection, be sure to tape the glass with masking tape diagonally. This little trick will keep the glass in place in case it cracks during transportation. 

In case your large-format paintings are not framed or protected by glass, it is best if you wrap the front of the painting with several thick layers of plastic wrap, palette wrap, or any other wrapping material that will protect it from impact.  

How to wrap your large-format paintings with wrapping material

As we mentioned, you should wrap your artwork in thick layers of the wrapping material of your choice. But what is the best way to do this? Let us take a look. 

●     Cut two equally sized pieces of brown paper (should be larger than the painting)

●     Place the framed painting face down against one sheet of brown paper

●     Cover the painting with the second sheet of brown paper 

●     Tape down the ends of the brown paper together like a present

●     Wrap the packing tape around the painting on all sides

●     Place the painting in a box

Pro tip: add a layer of wrapping paper or shock-absorbent wrapping material

a woman packing a book with brown paper
Brown paper is malleable and firm enough to give support to your large-format paintings.

Be sure to use brown packing paper rather than newspapers or other types of paper that do not offer the necessary support. Newspapers are not large enough to be taped down and wrapped around large-format paintings, and they tend to leave print ink on artwork. 

As you can see, art should be handled properly, so if you are unsure whether you can pack and move your large-format paintings or art collectibles on your own, the best thing is to call in professional artwork packing and moving crews.

Check if the painting is moving inside the box.

Before you finally seal the box with tape, you need to give it a few gentle pushes so that you can estimate if the painting is moving too much inside the box. If this is the case, you can crumble some newspapers to create padding. As we said before, be sure to do so only if you have already wrapped the artwork in brown packing paper. 

Seal the box appropriately.

In our experience, it is best if you use specialty boxes to pack large-format paintings such as triptychs. Place the tape on both ends of the box. Of course, you should first seal the upper part of the box and then stand it so that you can tape the bottom end for additional safety. This can be a bit difficult if the painting format is extremely large, so be sure to have a helping hand nearby just in case.

a man taping down a moving box
Use wide, firm packing tape to seal the box in the end.

Label the box

It might appear to you that it is obvious which boxes contain your large paintings. Regardless, you must label the boxes clearly and appropriately since you can really never be too sure what people might do to the boxes if they see them unlabeled. 

So, note down that the box contains fragile or glass items with a clearly written, short word such as ‘Fragile’ or ‘Glass.’  Proper labeling is crucial.

Be careful when placing the boxes into the vehicle.

Moving truck

Be sure to check if the moving crew is placing the paintings on the side of the moving truck. This is where labeling comes in – the artwork must not be laid flat on the ground, which means you need to inform the moving crew about the size of the vehicle you need. You can also stack your artwork between heavy furniture and other large items to prevent them from moving. 

Keep in mind that when transporting extremely high-valued fine art, you may require a professional art shipper.

We hope this short guide to transporting large-format paintings helped you prepare for the big move with your art collection. Good luck!

The Importance of Art Transit & Insurance

Art collectors, museums, galleries, artists, dealers, and auctioneers have one interest in common – The love, and preservation of art. The latter is what proper art insurance is for. A knowledgeable broker will know how to meet your requirements and make sure that your valuable possessions are insured against unforeseen damage and loss.

Risk management in the world of art

Knowing the perils of owning art and how damage can be prevented is crucial for risk management in the art world. In other words, you will not know how to protect your valuable art if you are unaware of the risks. That’s why ArtInsuranceNow.com is here to help clients choose the right type of insurance tailored to their situation. 

Why should an artist or collector have to be familiar with insurance terminology in order to choose proper coverage, when they have a team that is at their service who will recommend coverage based upon their unique situation? There is another necessary step to set up a solid risk management framework, and that is hiring experienced art movers to transport your art. According to top art insurance carriers, most accidents involving art occur during transport making up to 60% of insurance claims. For mitigation of this risk, you will require qualified art movers to handle conveyance.

Do you know the true value of your art collection?

Even though you know the sentimental value of your art piece or collection, you will probably not be able to determine its market value until you get it properly appraised. Don’t have an appraisal? we can still write a policy but at the time of loss, you must prove the value. ArtInsuranceNow.com can present accurate coverage that is suited to you. This provides cost-effective, comprehensive protection. It is essential to have a policy that covers damage and loss on or off-premises, during transport, in storage, and while the art is being exhibited or auctioned.

Accidents Happen

The true importance of having proper art insurance can be seen when an unfortunate event occurs. The smart thing to do is to think ahead and get the stellar coverage and exceptional service ArtInsuranceNow.com offers. There are many perils that your art can be exposed to, some examples are:

Theft

Art trafficking is one of the most prosperous criminal acts. It has been so from ancient times and unfortunately, it still is. Having proper art insurance cannot replace what has been lost but it will help you recover your investment.

Damage

All types of art can be precious, but some are much more delicate than others. You can never be too careful when protecting your valuables. Misfortune happens and we rarely see it coming. Art pieces can be completely destroyed or get ruined and lose all value in many ways, here are just a few:

  • Floods,
  • Fires,
  • Natural disasters
  • Fraud
  • Heist
  • Inadequate handling

Transit

Most damage to art happens in transit. Yes, movers can destroy your precious items. Whether it is due to incompetence or simply by accident, movers can damage or destroy the items you care so much about. So, be careful when hiring someone to relocate your valuable pieces of art. A good practice is to have a list of questions to ask before making a final decision about who will perform your relocation. Ask your friends for recommendations and call at least three companies to see what they offer. You can even contact the nearest gallery or museum and ask them for advice.

Transportation of fine-art pieces is the riskiest part of the relocation, but your movers should also be careful when packing and unpacking. Preparing art for relocation is a delicate task and it should never be done under pressure. That is why you should never try to self-transport your valuable items. Hiring fine art movers might seem expensive, but can you really put a price tag on peace of mind? It only takes one mistake to ruin an important work of art.

Ask your movers to describe the entire moving process to you. Will they come and see your art pieces before the relocation date so that they can make a plan? What kind of materials are they planning on using? Is the moving truck temperature controlled? Feel free to ask whatever comes to mind. After all, it is your art collection and you have the right to know.

Having the combination of proper art insurance along with qualified art movers means that you can rest assured that your art is covered for unforeseen circumstances and is in good hands when being transported. Risk management is the best investment you can make, for an extensive collection or just the precious piece of art you inherited from a relative.

Why use Fine-Art Movers?

Relocation is a complicated process that is emotionally, physically, and financially highly demanding. Owners of an impressive fine art collection have to face a serious challenge once the relocation becomes inevitable. Bearing in mind the sentimental and monetary value of the works of art in your possession, opting for a do-it-yourself move is an unreasonable and a very risky decision. You need genuine professionals who guarantee a smooth, trouble and stress-free relocation of your precious pieces and thus provide you with so much needed peace of mind. Here is a further explanation of why it is necessary to hire fine art movers for this endeavor.

Expert teams handle fine-art with the utmost care

As a passionate art collector, you must be aware of the fact that each and every work of art is unique and, thus, requires unique handling. Hiring movers who are not experienced and knowledgeable enough to handle your valuable art collection may have severe consequences. To be able to respond to this task properly and orchestrate and conduct the relocation successfully, movers have to be well-trained to handle artwork through each one of the relocation stages. Competent expert teams know how to apply proper packing techniques to provide your items with the utmost safety. They know how to install and deinstall fine art pieces, which is also critical in this process. Hence, only these expert teams can offer the impeccable service of moving your fine-art collection with success.

Proper packing is essential

Protecting your art collection is important at all times and the process of relocation is no exception. By using proper packing techniques and premium quality, non-abrasive packing materials, fine art movers reduce the chances of potential damage to a minimum. If necessary, they are trained to apply custom crating to make your art pieces perfectly safe while in transit. Designing and building these custom crates is one of the challenges regular furniture movers are not able to meet. Should any damage happen to your art collection, it might be considerably more expensive than hiring these specialized professionals for the job. Hence, investing in professional services is an intelligent choice. 

Expertise and accountability during fine art transportation

Whether you are moving your art collection a block or thousands of miles away, it is vital to manage all the risks while your artwork is in transit. Hiring fine art movers is a good strategy to achieve this because these experienced and skilled professionals are well-acquainted with a wide range of practices in accordance with the intrinsic nature of artwork. They are obliged to follow strict procedures and document every step of the moving process for quality assurance purposes. When necessary, they use elevating cranes for heavy and awkwardly-shaped pieces or even obtain a special license to block a street while the installation of an art piece at a final destination is in progress. Understandably, this is something unachievable for ordinary furniture movers. 

Furthermore, fine art movers transport your art collection in climate-controlled trucks and are ready for every contingency.  Concerning the value of your collection, this is certainly a cost-effective solution given the circumstances.

Proper insurance against damage and theft

Proper insurance and taking precaution measures against damage and theft are of key importance while the relocation of your art collection is in progress. If you hire fine art movers, you are presented with numerous options and a great variety of additional coverage that guarantees maximal protection to your valuable possessions. Reputable companies of fine art movers also offer moving trucks with GPS capability and a proper alarm system. The personnel involved in the process is always subject to a thorough background check that will witness their credibility and capability to conduct this task. In the case when you relocate art pieces of considerable value and importance, fine art movers organize police escort and armed guards for the utmost safety of your belongings. To be precise, they tailor the whole process to suit your needs, requirements, and financial means at your disposal.

Premium storage services

Finding the highest-quality fine-art storage facilities is a very challenging errand since you cannot entrust your valuable collection to anyone without carefully analyzing all the options available. Fine art is very delicate, sensitive to temperature changes, humidity, dirt, and pests, so you need a facility that provides satisfying conditions that will not cause any unwelcome changes and eventually diminish the aesthetic or monetary value of your art pieces. If you opt for hiring fine art movers, you choose expertise over amateurism. They are familiar with all the conditions a top-quality storage unit has to meet to become the choice of distrustful collectors who only want the best for their collections. 

The safe and carefully planned installation

Installation of your fine art collection, once it arrives at the final destination, is much more than simple unpacking and randomly choosing a place for each piece. Fine art movers are trained to analyze the interior in detail and then provide you with a wide range of art installation options given the circumstances. They find the best places to hang your beautiful paintings or to install massive and heavy sculptures.

 Fine art movers also identify the need to use special equipment for these tasks. They can detect the type of hardware necessary, for example, to keep your paintings safely in place according to their weight.  Prior to commencing the whole process, these professionals visit the final destination to be able to make a thorough plan. Since fragile, delicate, and highly valuable pieces are in question, having professional assistance is the warranty you need to relax and be sure the move will be completed utterly to your satisfaction.

Final words on the reasons to hire fine art movers

All factors considered, it is clearly evident that entrusting amateurs with relocating your fine-art collection is an unreasonable and unwise decision which might result in irreparable loss. Conduct a thorough search, explore reviews, ask for references to find the most reputable fine art movers you can trust with this complex task. Only this approach can guarantee the successful completion of this endeavor and the safe arrival of your precious pieces to their final destination in a timely manner.

Disclaimer: This article includes a link that will bring visitors to a third party website, owned and operated by an independent party over which Bernard Fleischer & Sons Inc. has no control (“3rd Party Website”). Any use of the 3rd Party Website will be subject to and any information you provide will be governed by the terms of the 3rd Party Website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy, and security.

Protecting your Art Collection

There are obvious dangers for an Art Collection. Fire, water, theft and even light is also a big threat, and the damage it can cause is irreversible. Even certain framing methods can destroy a work over time. What are the best ways to make sure your art is safe, secure, and displayed to its utmost advantage? ArtInsuranceNow.com has some helpful tips.

Thieves once robbed the home of an avid collector. The police asked for photographs of the stolen items but had to settle for dinner–party pictures in which several of the works appear incidentally in the background, often cropped and out of focus. This is not a good way to document your art.

You should continually evaluate your art collection, particularly when art values are high. Collectors should document their holdings and store the information (or a copy of it) off-site, not attached to, or near the works themselves. When properly insuring an item, the more documentation the better.

Technology can help organize your collection with easy to use inventory management software and apps. There is a variety of both free and paid “cloud” software (which means you can access it from any device anywhere you can connect to the internet). These applications can allow users to store an image of a work, as well as such information as price, appraisal value, purchase date, location, description, condition, and provenance. Collectors with many objects and multiple residences who don’t keep track of where everything is might not notice for months that something is missing.

Another way to protect your collection is to have a reliable alarm system for the art locations. From the stories we hear as a fine-art insurance agency, the amount of poorly maintained or even unused alarm systems at valuable properties is quite surprising. Also, if collectors get a series of phone hang–ups—six or more in a short period of time we advise you to call the police, because your house is possibly being cased. Crooks can be trying to look for a pattern to see when you’re home and when you’re out.

While there are many art heist stories to be told, transit and the environment remain the two biggest risks to works of art. We advise not to skimp when packing and shipping a work—and consider carefully where you display it. If you hang a painting in direct sunlight and it fades, most policies won’t cover it. Over 60 percent of claims are related to losses incurred in transit, including moving art around the collectors’ own homes. Bad packing and handling are avoidable problems and professional art packing and shipping have become more affordable.

No one wants to lose a piece of art but it happens, more often than we’d like to see so the best way to protect your collection is with due diligence and a fine art policy from ArtInsuranceNow.com / Bernard Fleischer & Sons Inc. We can guide you in obtaining the right fine art insurance for your unique requirements at great rates. For more info visit www.artinsurancenow.com and live chat with us, call us at 800.921.1008 or apply for a free quote below.

 

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Art in Transit: Why we insure

The reasons for art being shipped varies greatly, a collector may move or place artwork in storage while their home is being renovated, they often sell artwork at popular art fairs and even lend pieces to museums.

A dealer or gallerist may sell artwork to a collector from out of town or even another country, the working artist sends their commissioned works to buyers, galleries, etc. Auction houses frequently send and receive works of art. There are many different reasons for art transit, including shipping art out of harms way in cases of hurricanes and wildfires.

Other than hauling that hidden ‘masterpiece’ in the attic down to the Antiques Roadshow, artwork should be handled with care, shipped by professionals, and most importantly insured.

Transit insurance is extremely important to the safety of your investment. If you have the opportunity to talk with anybody in the insurance world for fine art, most of the losses by frequency — something like 70% — are caused by damage while it’s being handled through transit. Even so, not all insurance policies cover works of art.

Standard homeowners insurance likely won’t extend to cover your art collection, which is why most artists, collectors, dealers, and auction houses purchase a stand-alone policy that often includes protection for new works while they are being shipped to your home or business but it’s important to speak to knowledgeable art insurance professionals like Bernard Fleischer & Sons Inc. (ArtInsuranceNow.com) and understand what’s covered and what is not.

It is important to know that most transporters limit their liability and folks are often quite surprised at how low their liability is. So, make sure your insurance policy covers the work of art as it’s being shipped.

Whether buying or selling at art fairs be sure that your work or investment has the maximum coverage with minimal headaches by using the Trusted One Stop Art Insurance for the Art Community since 1949, Bernard Fleischer & Sons Inc. Visit artinsurancenow.com or call 800-921-1008 we can help you with all of your Art Insurance requirements.

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Art Exhibition Insurance – The Details

As representatives of the top Insurance carriers that insure exhibitions locally, in multi-states and internationally, we know coverages.

Each company has their own distinct forms to insure the unique exposures related to exhibitions. Coverages while in transit, at the exhibition venue, and in storage vary by company.

Below are some highlighted coverages to consider when placing insurance for an exhibition, how to protect the lenders, and what is the right valuation method.

 

About Exhibition Coverage

Most Art Insurance policies not only insure the work on exhibition, but also the didactic and ancillary materials such as vitrines, hardware, technology, and supportive structures.

A typical Policy I use with my insureds exhibition policy includes:

  • Agreed Value: We usually require a schedule prior to binding, but different terms can be negotiated.
  • Worldwide coverage for transit: is important when gathering works from overseas collectors.
  • Named Location: some policy covers only named location and excludes transit
  • Scheduled or Blanket: 
    • The schedule:  Establishes the price of the work to be insured.
    • Blanket: policy usually has a per item cap along with the onus of proof of value is on the insured.
  •  Loss Payee Certificates: These are issued if a lender requires proof of coverage and insures the check will be made to them in case of a loss.

 

  • Additional Important Exhibition Coverages one should verify if covered:
    • Packing crates, catalogs, and brochures included
    • Nail to Nail coverage:Coverage from point of pick up until returned.
    • Goods in transit
    • Art in storage in-between transit

 

  • Broad, all-risk coverage
  • Blanket limits on propertyin your care, custody, and control at scheduled locations and any other unnamed locations. Beware of sub-limits.
  • Domestic and international transit: To/from list of Exhibition Locations
  • No coinsurance clause penalty
  • Valuation clauses: important to know how a loss will be settled. Our policies are designed for the art industry
  • Coverage for jointly-ownedworks of art should be disclosed and understood how a loss will be paid in those instances.
  • Special clauses for “loss buy back” or “pairs and sets”
  • Relaxed appraisal requirements with most companies
  • Based on Consignment value established at time of pick up.

 

About Exhibition Exclusions and Conditions:

These policy forms usually include the standard and not so standard Exhibition polices.

Wear and tear, moth, vermin, and insects.

Damage resulting from any repair, restoration, or retouching process.

Nuclear, radiation, biological or chemical contamination.

War, invasion, an act of foreign enemies, hostilities, military or usurped power.

Confiscated, damaged or destroyed by or order of any government or public or local authority, except if taken at the time of a fire to prevent it’s spread.

In Conclusion: Art insurance has many variables and sections which can be negotiated, if you are a knowledgeable Art Insurance broker.