Many clients moving to France to settle, study, or work choose to bring beloved art pieces, such as original paintings, treasured sculptures, or collectible figurines. These items are valuable and often fragile, so packing requirements are very high. If they are packed poorly, they can easily be damaged during the long ocean journey, causing irreparable loss.

Based on Seapoe Relo's years of experience handling international art transport, art must be packed with professional methods, and the packing method for each material is completely different, so as to minimize shipping risk. This article provides a complete professional guide to packing art for a move to France, covering everything from paintings to sculptures, wood to stone.

1. Packing paintings and oil paintings: multi-layer protection is key, with moisture and impact protection in place

Paintings are fragile, high-value items, especially oil paintings and framed decorative art. Packing must use multiple layers of protection, and each layer has its purpose. Seapoe Relo's professional packers are strictly trained and have extensive experience packing different types of paintings:

1.1 How do you pack canvas oil paintings (with an inner frame)?

Layer 1: Full EPE foam wrap: First wrap the entire painting, including the frame, in 5 cm thick high-density EPE foam. The foam's bubble structure absorbs bumps and vibration during ocean shipping, providing cushioning. Be sure to use thick EPE foam, not the thin kind, which offers much less protection.

Layer 2: Cardboard reinforcement on corners: The four corners are the most vulnerable to impact. Wrap a piece of cardboard over each corner outside the EPE foam to keep the shape and prevent paint loss or deformation from knocks.

Layer 3: Moisture barrier film seal: France's climate is generally humid, especially along the Mediterranean coast, and moisture can condense inside shipping containers during ocean transport. Wrap a layer of moisture barrier film outside the EPE foam and seal it completely to keep moisture out and prevent mold.

Layer 4: Desiccant in the corners: Before using the custom wooden crate, place a small desiccant pack in each of the four corners to further absorb moisture inside the crate and better protect the canvas from mold.

Layer 5: Custom export crate: Finally, have a fumigation-free solid wood export crate made to the painting's dimensions. Secure the painting firmly in the center, leave 2-3 cm of cushioning space between the painting and the crate walls, and fill it with foam pellets to prevent shifting and impact during transport.

2. Packing sculptures: different materials need different handling

Sculptures are made from many materials, including stone, wood, metal, and plaster. Each material has different characteristics, so packing methods differ completely. The table below summarizes key packing points for sculptures by material:

? Detailed packing points by material

Stone/marble sculptures

• Stone sculptures are very heavy and fragile. Be sure to wrap them completely in 5 cm thick high-density sponge or EPE foam, with no exposed areas.
• Corners and protruding shapes need extra thick protection. You can add two more layers of EPE foam and secure them with tape.
• If the sculpture has detachable parts, remove them and pack them separately to avoid breakage at the joints during transport.
• When making the custom crate, secure the sculpture firmly with wooden strips inside to prevent shifting and impact during transport.
• Important note: Because stone items are fragile, they are generally not covered by insurance companies. The shipping risk is yours to bear, so packing must be especially careful.

Wood carvings/wood sculptures

• Wood sculptures absorb moisture and grow mold easily, especially on long ocean shipments, so moisture protection is a must.
• First wrap them completely in EPE foam, then add a thick moisture barrier film outside and seal it completely.
• Place 2-3 desiccant packs inside the crate to absorb moisture and prevent dampness and mold during ocean transport.
• If the wood carving has cracks or joined sections, reinforce them before wrapping to prevent them from breaking apart during transport.

Bronze/metal sculptures

• Metal sculptures do not break easily, but you need to prevent scratches to the paint and shape. This is especially true for polished bronze sculptures, which are hard to repair once scratched.
• First wrap them completely in EPE foam, filling every uneven shape to prevent scratches to the paint.
• Cushion corners and sharp shapes well to avoid piercing the packaging or damaging other parts.
• Finally, secure them in a custom crate so the sculpture does not shift.

Plaster/ceramic sculptures

• These sculptures are extremely brittle and break at the slightest impact, so they have the highest packing requirements.
• First wrap them completely in bubble wrap, at least 3 layers, securing each layer with tape.
• Then add a layer of thick EPE foam outside the bubble wrap for extra cushioning.
• When making the custom crate, fill all around it with foam pellets so the sculpture floats completely in foam, absorbing vibration as much as possible.
• Note: These sculptures also break easily, and insurance companies generally find it hard to cover them. The shipping risk is high, so it is best to prepare yourself mentally in advance.

3. Packing and customs clearance notes for high-value art

Many people think packing is just physical packaging. In fact, art packing and customs clearance involve many details. The table below summarizes the key points:

Detailed notes:

4. Packing tips for different shipping scenarios

1. Shipping art from China to France

• Pickup and packing at your home in China, with professional packers on site. After packing, the goods go straight into the port container with no transfer in between, reducing the risk of damage from extra handling.
• For LCL shipping, reinforcement is essential. Because LCL has more cargo, there is more shifting than in FCL, so protection must be stronger.

2. Shipping art from France back to China

• Local packers in France come to your home. Their standards match those in China, but the cost is somewhat higher.
• For customs clearance back in China, imported art requires proof of purchase or a valuation statement. Prepare the documents in advance.

5. A real case

We once had a client ship a large wood sculpture from China to Paris. At first, the client wanted to pack it himself to save money and effort. When our packer inspected it on site, he found the packing was completely wrong:

• The client had only wrapped it in a thin layer of bubble wrap, with no protection on the corners.
• He used an ordinary household cardboard box that could not support the sculpture's weight.
• He had done no moisture protection at all.

Our packer repacked it professionally:

First, he wrapped the entire sculpture in 5 cm thick EPE foam, filling every uneven area.

He added two extra layers of cushioning on the corners and secured them firmly with tape.

He wrapped a moisture barrier film outside and sealed it completely.

He had a double-layer fumigation-free export crate made, with wooden strips inside to secure the sculpture so it would not shift at all.

He placed a desiccant pack in each of the four corners of the crate for moisture protection.

The ocean shipment went smoothly from start to finish. The sculpture arrived at the client's home in perfect condition, and the client was very satisfied.

6. Frequently asked questions

Q: I have an original oil painting. Can I ship it to France? What special documents do I need?

A: Of course you can ship it. An original oil painting you created yourself does not need special documents; normal declaration is enough for customs clearance. If it is a purchased work by a famous artist, you only need to provide proof of purchase.

Q: If I ship a sculpture from France back to China, roughly how much is the tariff?

A: Import tariffs on art are generally around 6%-14%, depending on the material and value. We will help you estimate in advance so you can budget.

Q: Is art shipping insurance mandatory? Can I save money by not buying it?

A: We strongly recommend buying it. Art is generally high in value, and damage means a big loss. Insurance adds some cost, but it gives you peace of mind. This is especially true for original art, which cannot be restored once damaged. With insurance, at least you can get financial compensation.

Q: I have dozens of boxes of figurines. Can I ship them to France together? Roughly how much is the packing fee?

A: Yes, you can ship them together. Packing is charged by volume, generally RMB 200-300 per cubic meter, depending on the quantity. We will give you a quote in advance.

Q: Can I really not buy insurance for stone sculptures? What if they get damaged?

A: Because stone sculptures are fragile and claims are frequent, most insurance companies do not cover them. Shipping stone sculptures is indeed higher risk. If you must ship them, you bear the risk yourself, so packing must be done very well to reduce the risk as much as possible.

Q: I am bringing several rice paper Chinese paintings. How should I pack them?

A: If the rice paper Chinese paintings are mounted and framed, pack them the same way as framed decorative paintings. If they are scroll paintings, pack them as scroll paintings, with extra attention to moisture and crease protection.

What art transport services can Seapoe provide?

Seapoe Relo has focused on China-France moving for many years and has extensive experience in art transport. We can provide one-stop professional services:

Whether you are shipping from China to France or from France back to China, Seapoe can provide professional, reliable service.