Antique furniture carries value that cannot be replaced — financial, historical, and personal. Austin Crate & Freight ships antique pieces across Texas using custom crating, padded blanket wrap, climate-aware packaging, and white-glove handling at every step.
Antique furniture is not just old — it is structurally different from modern furniture. Joints are held with animal-hide glue that becomes brittle over time. Veneer is thin and adhered with period-appropriate methods that do not tolerate moisture or vibration. Finishes have accumulated patina that cannot be replicated if damaged. A scratch on a 200-year-old secretary desk does not sell as "distressed" — it devalues the piece and breaks a chain of preservation.
Standard shipping methods — cardboard boxes, moving blankets thrown in a truck, plastic wrap against the finish — are not adequate for pieces worth hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars. The risk is not just damage in transit; it is the wrong packaging material degrading the finish before the piece even arrives.
We use acid-free tissue paper against all finished surfaces, padded blanket wrap for secondary protection, and custom wood crates for pieces requiring hard-shell protection. Every decision is made with the specific piece in mind, not a generic protocol applied to all furniture regardless of age or value.
Every antique shipment follows a hands-on process developed over years of handling irreplaceable pieces.
We photograph and document the piece before it leaves the origin — noting any pre-existing wear, repairs, or fragile areas. This protects both you and us and establishes a baseline for insurance purposes.
Acid-free tissue paper is applied directly to all finished surfaces before any other material touches the piece. Never plastic wrap directly on lacquer, shellac, or wax finishes — moisture traps and adhesives damage period finishes.
Thick padded moving blankets are applied over the tissue layer. Blankets are secured with stretch wrap only on the outer layer — not against the wood. For complex pieces with legs, arms, or projections, each element is padded individually.
Particularly fragile, high-value, or long-distance shipments warrant a wood crate. We build the crate around the wrapped piece, adding internal blocking to prevent movement and external corner protectors to handle dock contact.
For humid or temperature-variable routes across Texas, we can add moisture-barrier wrapping. Wood and veneer are sensitive to rapid humidity changes — proper packaging prevents wood movement and veneer lifting.
At destination, we unwrap the piece while you are present. We will not leave until you have inspected the furniture and confirmed it arrived in the same condition it left. We document the delivery with photos as well.
Each period and style has specific vulnerabilities. We handle all of the following with appropriate care protocols.
Texas is one of the most active antique markets in the country. Roundtop Antiques — held twice yearly near La Grange — draws buyers from across the state and nation. Houston has dozens of antique galleries along Westheimer. San Antonio's King William Historic District has significant Victorian and Mission Revival furniture. Dallas-Fort Worth has established antique dealer communities in Design District and Highland Park. Austin itself has growing collector and gallery networks.
We ship from and to every corner of Texas — from El Paso to Beaumont, from Amarillo to Brownsville. We pick up at estate sales, antique markets, galleries, and private residences. Delivery goes wherever the buyer is: apartment, ranch, storage facility, or commercial gallery.
Standard freight carriers default to a liability of $0.10–$0.25 per pound. A 200 lb Victorian sideboard worth $8,000 at auction would be covered for $20–$50 under default terms. That gap is not acceptable for irreplaceable antiques.
We recommend declared value coverage at the full appraised or insured value of the piece. Before shipping a high-value antique, have it appraised in writing if you do not already have documentation. An appraisal from a certified appraiser is the best protection you have in a claim.
We provide condition reports at pickup and delivery, photograph the piece in packaging before transport, and document the complete chain of handling. This documentation supports any claim and gives our clients the strongest possible position in a dispute.
Antique furniture shipping across Texas typically ranges from $300–$900 depending on the piece size, fragility, destination, and whether a custom crate is required. A single chair shipping from Austin to Houston might be $250–$400; a large armoire requiring a custom crate shipping to Dallas might be $600–$1,200. Call us for an exact quote.
For many antiques, padded blanket wrap in a dedicated specialty freight vehicle is safe. For pieces over $3,000 in value, with very fragile veneer or surface finish, or for long-distance Texas or out-of-state routes, a custom crate provides significantly better protection. We will make an honest recommendation based on the specific piece.
Yes. We regularly pick up antique furniture from estate sales, auction houses, and antique markets including the Roundtop Antiques show. We can coordinate pickup to coincide with the end of an event or auction. Call us in advance to schedule — Roundtop pickups in particular book up quickly around show dates.
The most helpful information is: the piece description (type, approximate age, dimensions, weight if known), origin city/zip, destination city/zip, and any known fragility issues (veneer damage, gilt that chips, structural repairs). Photos are also very helpful — you can email or text them to us.
Yes. We ship antique furniture across the US. For out-of-state shipments, we typically use LTL freight with a custom crate, which provides the safest combination of protection and cost for long-distance moves. Transit time varies by destination — typically 5–10 business days for cross-country delivery.
Austin Crate & Freight serves the entire Austin metro — custom crating, white-glove pickup, and specialty freight for items that standard carriers cannot handle.
Tell us what you have, where it needs to go, and any known concerns about the piece. We will come back with a fair quote and an honest recommendation on the best packaging approach.