Recent Examples Of Fine Art Being Damaged During Shipping

As a courier, you’re under immense pressure when shipping fine art to maintain its condition. Be it a sculpture, painting or larger installation, your client is always expecting their work to arrive in pristine condition.

Nowadays, though vehicle and boat transport methods have improved, there are still instances in recent years where art has been lost, damaged or even stolen during shipping; serving as stern reminders of what ought to be avoided during art’s transport, even in the present day.

Warhol’s ‘Self-Portrait’

When the curators behind AXA Art’s 2004 London conference opened their deliveries, they were met with the famous pop artist Andy Warhol’s face torn in two. Having not been adequately protected from winds during shipment, the canvas of the painting had ripped when it was handled incorrectly in transit.

Among other breakages such as a Picasso sculpture, Byzantine columns and a painting worth 8.6 million pounds at the time, the unexpected lack of fine art on display that year was down to the use of a courier who couldn’t guarantee protection of the works during security checks or when exposed to the elements.

Goya’s ‘Children with a Cart’

This revered piece of fine art worth an estimated 1 million dollars was stolen during shipping in 2006 between its movement from Ohio to Manhattan. With a response that warranted an investigation from the FBI, this specific instance serves as an extremely unfortunate (not to mention costly) example of the need to be aware of theft during transport.

Theft can be prevented with the use of GPS tracking, confidential transport routes, and the strict vetting of associated personnel. At Nick Sampson, we ensure secure delivery methods by following four key techniques and values that are simple, but focus specifically on preventing these particularly unfortunate cases.

Rodin’s ‘Les Bourgeois de Calais’

While bronze sculptures may seem less prone to damage or thievery due to their size and weight, it’s still possible for them to get lost during shipping between boat transport and the sculpture’s installation. One such example is the missing case of this 19th-century sculpture that was lost among 1,750 items from the Scottish Museum in 2023.

This recent loss proves how the best practices for fine art shipping are ever-vital for all artistic mediums: from its initial loading to the art or sculpture’s eventual installation.

Nick Sampson: Art That Makes it to the Museum

A team of vetted professionals will be packaging, surveilling and handling your art when you work with Nick Sampson. Our four defining values ensure that your art will remain intact and be delivered securely to its destination without suffering the unfortunate fate of those discussed in this blog.

Contact us today to discuss how our shipping process understands the failings of previous fine art couriers, by building on the lessons of the past with modern-day expertise.