Object Packing and Shipping
edit.jpg)
Museum objects are often the subject of loan agreements between museums of other cultural institution in which physical pieces are transferred from one location to another for the purposes of exhibitions, scholarly research, or potential sales.[1] The preparation for such loans fall under the duties of the museum registrar which include assessing the condition, packing the object, arranging shipping, and sometimes accompanying the object to its final destination.[2]
Packing
editPacking museum objects for travel is a complicated process that requires many steps:
- Instructions for unpacking and repacking should accompany the shipment in the form of written instructions, diagrams, photographs, video, or computer modeling. [1]
- One must consider what the object is and what it is made from. The material and media dictate the durability, or lack thereof, a physical object. Some objects require more rigid reinforcement while others are less fragile.
- Choosing packing materials is the ultimate challenge for registrars in terms of packing. The duration of travel is important as well. It can dictate what kind of packing materials are used and how an object makes its journey.
Unpacking the object - Some shorter trips require only "soft packing," which is can include casing made from Ethafoam, Corex, Coroplast and does not require wooden crating.[3]
- Longer trips, or when dealing with more fragile items, requires the use of wooden crates or "hard packing." These crates can be costly, but provide the best, most protective outer frame.[3]
- The best way to pack objects is with a mixture of both hard packing and soft packing, which provides the security of a hard frame with the ease and weight of soft packing.[3] Creating inner and outer boxes will provide extra strength.
- Packing fragile artifacts sometimes requires the creation of a nest using cotton batting and muslin over Ethafoam to create an artifact cradle whose own weight creates a type of support.[3]
- Objects should be shipped in the direction of their heft according to how they are most sturdy. A cylindrical vase would ship upright. Paintings ship upright but works on paper should be shipped flat.[3]
- When traditional mounts or materials do not accommodate the object, mount makers can manufacture custom supports for transportation and exhibition.
- Object environments require special climatization. Vehicles used to transport these objects should be set to the optimum levels of humidity and temperature.
- In addition to transport, the objects should be left inside their protective packaging for at least 24 hours[1] in its new environment before being opened and unpacked.
Shipping
edit
There are a number of specialized companies that deal with shipping art and other objects of material culture. Couriers act as the object handlers, preparators, curators, and registrars when accompanying objects to their destination. Depending on the size of the museum, sometimes couriers have separate job titles while other times, couriering is done by the aforementioned professionals themselves[2].
Shipping can be done in a variety of vehicles, both public and private. While private is preferable, it is more expensive. In order to assure the best service when using a public or shared delivery, museums can request a "Last on, First Off" treatment.[3]
It is also important to keep in mind the destination of the object and be prepared for any and all customs requirements that may arise. The instructions mentioned above for proper packing and unpacking should be clear, concise, and available in both the home and host languages.
Professional Training
editRegistrar
editTo become a registrar or collection manager, certain training is required.[2] These responsibilities, in part, may also be fulfilled by conservators, art handlers and preparators.
- Undergraduate degree in the specialty of the type of museum in which they work (i.e. Art History in an art museum)
- Graduate degree in Museum Studies of a related field.
- Familiarity with national and international shipping, collection management software, insurance practices, and object handling.
Object Handling
editObject handling is a requirement for many jobs within the museum field. This education can be achieved by hands-on practice or by attending professional workshops. In 2014, the Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists held a conference dedicated to “Packing and Crating Dynamics – Current Standards and Future Trends,” at the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[4] The Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies[5] also offers continuing workshops on packing and shipping objects of cultural heritage.
External Links
editThe Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists
The Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies
Preparation, Art handling, and Collections Care Information Network
References
edit- ^ a b c Buck, Rebecca A.; Gilmore, Jean Allman (2010). Museum Registration Methods 5th Edition. Washington, DC: The AAM Press. pp. 120–132. ISBN 978-0-8389-1122-8.
- ^ a b c Schlatter, N. Elizabeth (2008). Museum Careers. Walnut Creek, CA: Left Coast Press. pp. 71–73. ISBN 978-1-59874-044-8.
- ^ a b c d e f Oates, Kelly (2011). "Helpful Tips on Packing and Shipping Museum Objects". Iowa Conserve and Preserve. Retrieved 2/28/2016.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|access-date=(help) - ^ Spealists, Association of Registrars and Collection. "2014 Packing & Crating Workshop - Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists - Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists". www.arcsinfo.org. Retrieved 2016-02-29.
{{cite web}}: line feed character in|title=at position 88 (help) - ^ "Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies". Campbell Center for Historic Preservation Studies. Retrieved 2016-02-29.