Did you ever wonder about the fears of a curator? Did you ever question the high security of the museums containing Egyptian findings?
Whether you are an art lover or a house owner with valuable paintings in possession, there will be a moment when you have to worry about how to store these invaluable masterpieces.
It can be due to any reason, from redecorating and renovating space to simply if these art pieces are taking too much space in your home. In this regard, the biggest honorary is when you keep them protected for years to get inherited by the next generation.
You may think about why there is such a long talk about storing any artwork. We can pack any of these articles in bubble wrap and place them in any house corner. It may sound relatively easy, but that’s the most unpleasant deed ever done in the history of antiquity! Being an art lover demands us to be extraordinarily cautious, from the wrapping you are using to the temperature of the area you are going to store artwork. A slight mistake will destroy the worth and essence of your beloved collection.
Thus, begin reading to learn a lot more about keeping your artwork safe in the best possible way to guarantee their utmost longevity.
Why is art storage necessary?
If art collection is your hobby, you must be keenly interested in storing art supplies with ultimate care and caution. Thus, people protect their precious collectibles in many ways; self storage units, however, remain the prior choice for them. All such facilities that provide classified features of accommodating atmospheric sensitive objects stay highly in-demand. People who keep traveling searching for paintings, sculptures, pottery, gems, or books look for storage ideas. Also, artworks, if displayed for a long time, start to deteriorate. It is because of a lot of the dirt, humidity, or the changing environmental conditions. Especially those having photographic and paper works are prone to deteriorate soon. The paint starts to crack, and colors start fading.
So, for the sake of art itself and to create room for new articles, you need to learn how and where to store art pieces safely for a long time.
Here are some vital steps you can follow to store an art piece:
Look for a storage area:
Look for the right storage area having the least humidity in its environment. Note that the site has little to no human traffic; otherwise, it can someday result in irreparable loss. Opt for a dark room with a low temperature. Hotter environment affects art pieces a lot, especially paintings and photographs.
Prepare your artwork for storage:
You need to store every kind of art piece differently. However, here we are going to categorize them into two major categories:
- Framed artworks
- Unframed artworks
- Framed Artworks:
In the case of framed artworks, you don’t need to worry a lot about the damage to the stated object. You can take a bubble wrap or storage blanket and wrap it up inside it. However, to protect the frame nicely, you should use cushion pads in front and back. These pads will prevent any breakage from the edge. You can also use hardboard as pads. Use tape to secure each item in place.
- Unframed Artworks:
Unframed artworks are more prone to damage. They will be in constant contact with storage material or left open to the environment. For extra care, you should use a silicone release paper to cover all over the front. You can easily use glass line paper on the outside. Now you can place pads in front and back and secure them with tape. In the end, use a storage blanket or bubble wrap to provide further protection from humidity and support.
Covering Material:
You can use a clean cloth to cover your whole art piece. The fabric will collect all dust from the surroundings and protect the artwork inside from contacting any foreign particle. Make sure the clothing you are going to use is completely dry and clean. Moreover, if you store the pieces for a long time, you can take them outside for aeration. It will help to prevent the growth of any microbes, fungi, and other humidity based losses.
Stack Everything Properly:
Now it comes to placing your objects in the self-storage unit. You need to check the temperature, humidity, and light reaching the area before putting your art pieces there. Moreover, try to place every article separately if you have enough space. You can prefer vertical placement in a constrained site instead of a horizontal one to avoid weight effects on the items.
Do Not Store In Basements Or Attics:
Basements and attics store a lot of humidity in the surrounding. Humidity is the biggest enemy of the art piece. It can not only damage the paint but also make metal pieces rust and deteriorate. Or precisely, both damp and arid conditions are harmful to your valuables. If you have to store there, take appropriate precautionary measures, and regularly check environmental conditions.
Conclusion:
The artwork is what makes a place look more human. However, storing artwork is as vital as procuring it. If you plan to sell it, the situation becomes more critical. Hopefully, after the guidelines mentioned above, you can easily protect, secure, and save every kind of artwork you have for a long time. Remember to pay attention to minor details, and also ask for product-specific guidelines from the professionals. It is not a task requiring professional services but also sensitive and tricky too. So, be precise and cautious; you will never happen to lose any of the detail!