Antique artifacts carry irreplaceable cultural and historical significance — and physical vulnerabilities that standard freight carriers are not equipped to handle. We build museum-quality crates tailored to each object's materials, weight distribution, and fragility profile.
Artifacts are not homogeneous. A 2,000-year-old terracotta vessel has fundamentally different structural vulnerabilities than a 16th-century bronze statue or a Qing dynasty jade pendant. Standard box-and-peanuts packing fails artifacts because it treats them as a category rather than as individual objects with specific pressure sensitivity, weight distribution issues, and material properties.
Terracotta is brittle and can crack along internal fault lines not visible on the surface. Bronze develops patinas that can flake under atmospheric pressure changes. Jade pieces with previous repairs are at risk of re-separation if vibrated at certain frequencies. Lacquerwork is exquisitely sensitive to humidity swings. Each material demands a different crating approach — and the crating builder needs to understand materials in addition to engineering.
We assess every artifact before building its crate, using appropriate foam densities, support structures, and secondary containment to isolate movement at every axis.
Museum-standard protocols applied to each individual object.
Before we touch anything, we document the current state of the piece with photographs and written condition notes. This record protects both parties in any transit damage dispute.
We cut foam cradles to the exact profile of the object — not an approximate fit. Ethafoam and Volara are common choices depending on object material and required density. Acid-neutral, no off-gassing that could affect patinas or surface treatments.
Terracotta packed horizontally to avoid base-point loading. Bronze with patina wrapped in acid-free tissue before foam contact. Lacquerwork in sealed moisture-barrier film. Jade wrapped to prevent any hard-contact edge stresses.
The primary crate sits inside an outer shipping container for multi-modal journeys. Air gap and secondary foam layer protect against corner impacts and the significant g-forces possible when freight is dropped during loading.
Complete shipping documentation: condition report, packing list, CITES compliance where applicable, insurance certificate, chain-of-custody record. Your piece is documented from our hands to its destination.
We provide unpacking instructions with each crate so the receiving party does not inadvertently damage the piece during unboxing. For museum deliveries, we offer to be present at unpacking if the institution requires it.
We handle a broad range of historical and cultural objects with the care each material demands.
Collectors moving works between residences, lending to exhibitions, selling to dealers, or entrusting pieces to institutions for conservation. We provide the documentation that serious collectors require for their records.
Antique dealers and auction specialists sending consignments for appraisal, preview, or buyer delivery. We work to auction house timelines and meet the condition standards required for high-value transactions.
UT Austin, Austin museums, and Texas institutions borrowing or lending pieces for traveling exhibitions. We meet the technical packing requirements specified by institutional curatorial and registrar staff.
We photograph and document any pre-existing repairs at intake. When building the crate, we design foam support around the repair point so that no pressure or vibration can be transmitted to it during transit. Objects with major structural repairs may require consultation before we commit to a crating approach.
Yes. We handle domestic crating and freight coordination. For international shipments, we work with customs brokers experienced in cultural property and CITES requirements. Export documentation and country-specific import regulations are part of the planning process. Lead time for international artifact shipments is typically 3–6 weeks from inquiry.
We use acid-free tissue, Ethafoam, Volara, and Tyvek depending on the material. All contact materials are chemically inert — no sulfur-containing materials near metals, no acidic materials near organic objects. Museum conservator recommendations are incorporated into our material choices for particularly sensitive pieces.
We can assist in identifying what CITES documentation may be required and connect you with the appropriate brokers for obtaining permits. Objects containing ivory, certain woods, or other CITES-regulated materials require documentation before shipping — call us early in your planning process.
Call or email us with photos and basic dimensions. We will give you an initial assessment of the crating approach and a rough estimate. For unusual or very high-value pieces, we prefer to see the object in person before finalizing the approach. We offer on-site assessments for objects that cannot be transported to us first.
Austin Crate & Freight serves the entire Austin metro — custom crating, white-glove pickup, and specialty freight for items that standard carriers cannot handle.
White-glove furniture shipping and custom crating across Austin and all of Texas. Sofas, dining sets, bedroom furniture, antiques, and pieces too large or fragile for standard carriers.
Every piece is unique. Call us to discuss the specific requirements of your object before we commit to a crating approach.