How to Move Antiques and Artwork Safely During a House Move

Antiques, paintings, sculptures, and valuable collectibles require a fundamentally different approach to packing and transport than standard household goods. A scratch on a modern sofa is an inconvenience; a scratch on a 200-year-old rosewood cabinet or a tear in a framed oil painting can represent an irreversible and financially significant loss. Standard bubble wrap and cardboard boxes are inadequate for these items, and standard transit insurance policies often exclude high-value antiques unless they are declared and separately insured.

This guide covers the correct materials, techniques, and transport considerations for the four most common categories of valuable items found in Indian homes: framed artwork and paintings, antique furniture, sculptures and decorative objects, and vintage textiles and carpets. If your household contains items that are genuinely irreplaceable, this guide will help you give them the level of protection they require.

Framed Artwork and Paintings: Protecting Glass, Canvas, and Frame

Framed artworks are vulnerable to three types of damage during a move: glass breakage, canvas puncture or denting, and frame cracking at the corners. Each requires a different protective layer.

• Apply painter tape in an X pattern across the glass surface before wrapping — if glass breaks during transit, the tape holds shards in place and prevents them cutting through to the canvas
• Wrap the entire framed piece in acid-free tissue paper first, then add a layer of bubble wrap over the tissue
• Use custom cardboard corner protectors on all four frame corners before boxing
• Pack artwork vertically on its edge in a double-wall box — never flat, as stacking weight can crack frames and dent canvases
• For unframed canvases, roll loosely around a cardboard tube with the painted surface facing outward, never inward
• Mark every artwork box FRAGILE and THIS SIDE UP on all surfaces

Antique Furniture: Wood, Joints, and Aged Surfaces

Antique furniture is more fragile than modern pieces because the wood has dried and contracted over decades, making joints weaker and surfaces more prone to cracking. Dismantling antique furniture without specialist knowledge risks irreversible damage — when in doubt, transport pieces intact rather than disassembled.

• Clean all wooden surfaces with a dry cloth before wrapping — avoid any liquid products that can penetrate aged wood grain
• Wrap the entire piece in furniture moving blankets and secure with moving straps rather than adhesive tape, which can lift aged lacquer finishes
• Do not force disassembly of antique mortise-and-tenon joints — old joints crack under forced separation
• Remove loose hardware such as handles and decorative fittings and store them in a labelled bag
• Transport in a closed vehicle away from direct sunlight — extreme heat causes old wood to expand and joints to fail

Sculptures, Figurines, and Decorative Objects

Three-dimensional objects — bronze sculptures, marble figurines, ceramic collectibles, and decorative brassware — require individual wrapping in multiple layers and snug, custom-sized boxes that prevent any movement during transit. A figurine that shifts even a few centimetres inside a box during a road bump can sustain a chipped base that is difficult or impossible to repair.

• Wrap each object individually in acid-free tissue paper, then foam sheet, then a final layer of bubble wrap
• Use a box only slightly larger than the wrapped object and fill all remaining space with foam peanuts
• For heavy stone or bronze pieces, reinforce the base of the box with an additional corrugated layer
• Never pack multiple sculptures in the same box even with padding between them

Vintage Textiles, Carpets, and Rugs

Antique textiles and hand-knotted carpets are vulnerable to crushing, folding, moisture, and pest damage during a move. The correct packing method for aged textiles differs significantly from standard rugs.

• Roll carpets and rugs with the pile facing inward around a cardboard tube — never fold, as folding creates permanent creases that can break the weave
• Wrap the rolled carpet in acid-free tissue paper first, then a moisture-resistant outer layer, and tie with soft fabric ties rather than cord that can indent fibres
• Store rolled textiles horizontally during transit — never upright and never with other items stacked on top
• Place cedar blocks or natural moth-repellent sachets inside the outer wrapping to protect against pest damage during storage or transit