Relocating your home or business can be stressful on its own — but when your move involves transporting valuable fine art, antiques, or fragile collectibles, the stakes grow exponentially. Whether you’re a private collector in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, a gallery owner in Frisco Square, or preparing to relocate antique heirlooms from your historic Euless home, ensuring the safe transit of these high-value items should be a top priority.At Olde World Movers, we’ve helped Texans relocate fine art for nearly three decades — from classic oil paintings and bronze sculptures to priceless heirlooms and museum-quality collections. This guide gathers our most trusted packing, handling, and moving tips to protect your investment and give you peace of mind during your move.
1. Come Up With an Inventory
First, create an inventory of all the valuable artwork and paintings you have in your home. Then, you can make the decision to either pack them yourself or have your mover do it. If your inventory comprises large, delicate or expensive pieces, it’s wise to hire your mover to handle this task. They have the equipment, tools and know-how to get the job done right. You will also want to have valuable items appraised and insured before you move.
2. Buy the Proper Supplies
It’s vital that you have the proper supplies on hand before you even consider packaging your artwork. The type of supplies you get will vary with the size and nature of the item. For example, if you have glass-framed prints, you will have to get special boxes and packaging that are designed to protect those kinds of items from damage. Corner protectors are also a good idea to prevent chipping. For sculptures, bubble wrap and packaging peanuts will act as a buffer and prevent damage as well.
3. Protect Framed Pieces
When packaging glass frames, place two strips of masking tape or painter’s tape over the glass and stretch it from corner to corner. This will prevent the glass from shattering and gouging the artwork in the event it is broken. After taping the picture, place protectors around the corners and wrap it in a layer of packing paper. Then, sandwich the piece between two pieces of cardboard, finally wrapping it all in bubble wrap and placing in a box.
4. Protect Paint on Unframed Art
If some of your artwork doesn’t have glass, you’ll need to take extra precautions to protect the canvas. Because the plastic that’s in bubble wrap can stick to the paint, especially when stored for a long time, don’t use this type of packing material directly on the art. Instead, you will want to first protect the painting with a layer of glassine, which is an acid-free, transparent kind of paper. Place the artwork face down on the glassine and secure using artist’s tape. Then, it’s safe to wrap it in bubble wrap, box and seal.
5. Label Each Box
Once everything has been wrapped, label each box with its contents and mark it “fragile.”
6. Store in a Safe Place
If your fine arts collection will be going into storage for the time being, choose a climate-controlled unit to prevent the growth of mold and mildew, or other damage due to heat and humidity fluctuations.
📌 Why Specialized Moving Care Matters for Fine Art
Unlike everyday household items, fine art and antiques are vulnerable to environmental changes, handling pressure, and impact. Typical risks include:
- UV damage
- Humidity or moisture exposure
- Surface abrasions during transit
- Frame/glass breakage
- Irreversible value loss through improper packing
Even the smallest dent or scratch could drastically reduce the value of a one-of-a-kind piece — especially vintage or appraisal-certified artwork. That’s why professional packing, handling, and insulated crating are crucial.
📦 Packing Materials You Should Be Using
Choosing proper packing material is the backbone of safe artwork transport. Here’s what we use at Olde World Movers:
✅ For paintings & framed art:
- Acid-free glassine paper
- Corner protectors
- Bubble wrap (double layered, taped securely)
- Cardboard spacers
- Mirror/art cartons (adjustable telescoping boxes)
- Optional: Custom foam or plywood crates
✅ For sculptures & 3D art:
- Polyethylene foam sheeting
- Crated wooden bases
- Shock-absorbent fillers (e.g., foam-in-place)
- Nonabrasive blankets or shrink wrap
✅ For antique furniture or woodwork:
- Furniture pads
- Climate-controlled storage wraps
- Foam-lined custom crates
- Felt blankets to prevent chafing
Pro Tip: Never wrap oil paintings in bubble wrap directly — the plastic can stick to the paint’s surface and cause permanent damage.
🖼️ Ultra-Fragile or Oversized Art? Hire Professional Movers
Large-scale paintings, marble sculptures, and antique glass may need lift gates, rigging equipment, or disassembly — especially for moves out of Condos in Sundance Square, older homes in Candleridge, or multi-floor apartments in Frisco’s Stonebriar district.
Olde World Movers specializes in these moves and offers:
- Secure art transport trucks
- Trained handlers for museum-grade items
- Climate-controlled storage facilities in Fort Worth & Euless
- Custom crating and shrink-wrap prep
- Licensed and insured moving specialists
💼 Commercial Art Moving: For Galleries, Offices, and Exhibits
Moving artwork out of offices near West 7th, relocating a gallery in Frisco Discovery Center, or transitioning an artist studio from North Richland Hills into Denton?
Commercial art moves involve:
- Downtime management
- Multi-unit coordination
- Timed delivery
- White-glove installation options
✈️ Moving Art Out of Texas?
If you’re moving from Fort Worth to another state, consult with insurers like AXA or Chubb — both specialize in fine art insurance. You’ll need:
- Transit-only or full-move liability
- Updated appraisal reports
- Photos of condition pre-move
Tip: UPS, USPS, and common freight carriers are not ideal for high-value art. Always use a specialized mover.
📍 Local Landmarks and Locations We Serve for Art Moving
- Fort Worth Cultural District: Kimball Art Museum area, West 7th, Camp Bowie Blvd
- Frisco: Stonebriar Centre, The Star District, Heritage Museum areas
- Euless: Midway Park, Bear Creek area, Glade Parks shopping district
- Tarrant & Denton Counties: Keller, Southlake, Grapevine, Coppell
Whether you’re relocating your office from Magnolia Ave near the University of North Texas Health Science Center, downsizing from Fossil Creek Golf Club, or moving into a new build in Frisco’s Phillips Creek Ranch, we bring care and expertise to your move.
🚚 Make Your Next North Texas Move Easy — Contact Olde World Movers
We’ve been trusted movers in Fort Worth, Frisco, Euless, Grapevine, Southlake, and beyond for over 30 years. Our team has extensive experience with:
- Fine art and sculpture transport
- Piano moving
- Antique furniture relocation
- Packing and storage solutions
For more tips on packing fine arts or to book us for your move, contact us for a free estimate at one of our two locations.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I safely move a framed painting in Fort Worth?
To safely move a framed painting in Fort Worth, wrap it in acid-free glassine paper, add corner protectors, and double wrap in bubble film before placing it in a telescoping art box or custom crate. For extra security, hire professional art movers like Olde World Movers.
2. Should I use a regular moving company for fine art and antiques?
No. Most standard movers lack the tools, materials, and experience needed to protect high-value art or antiques. Always choose a moving company specializing in fine art and fragile item transport to prevent damage and loss.
3. What packing materials are best for transporting fine art?
Essential packing materials for fine art include acid-free glassine paper, bubble wrap, corner and edge protectors, foam sheeting, and custom crating. Each item should be wrapped individually and labeled clearly to prevent mishandling.
4. Do you offer climate-controlled storage for fine art in Texas?
Yes. Olde World Movers provides both short and long-term, climate-controlled storage solutions in the Fort Worth and Euless area. This helps protect artwork from humidity, heat, and environmental damage while you transition between spaces.
5. How do I insured my art during a move?
Get a professional appraisal of your artwork and contact a fine art insurance provider such as AXA or Chubb. Many movers offer valuation coverage, but high-value items should be insured separately for the full replacement amount.
6. Can I get a free fine art moving quote in Fort Worth or Frisco?
Absolutely. Olde World Movers offers free, customized moving estimates for fine art, antiques, piano relocation, and more throughout Fort Worth, Frisco, Euless, and North Texas.
