Moving Antiques Safely: Protecting Valuable and Fragile Heirlooms

Why Do Antiques Need Special Care During a Move?

Antiques have aged materials, weakened joints, and irreplaceable value—they require climate-controlled transport, custom crating, and white-glove handling by trained specialists.

Antiques are not just old—they are irreplaceable pieces of history. Unlike modern furniture, they have:

• Aged Materials: Wood, glue, and finishes weaken over time
• Delicate Construction: Joints and mechanisms not designed for modern moving
• Unique Value: Cannot be replaced if damaged
• Climate Sensitivity: React to temperature and humidity changes

Our specialty moving services include white-glove antique handling.

How Should You Assess Antiques Before Moving?

Document each piece with photographs from multiple angles, note existing damage, record measurements for crating, get professional appraisals, and update insurance coverage.

How Do You Document Antiques Before a Move?

• Photograph each piece from multiple angles
• Note existing damage, wear, or repairs
• Record measurements for crating
• Get professional appraisals for valuable items
• Update insurance coverage before the move

What Should a Condition Report Include?

Create a written condition report including:

• Overall structural condition
• Finish condition (scratches, fading, repairs)
• Loose elements (handles, veneer, inlays)
• Hardware condition (hinges, locks, pulls)
• Any previous restorations

What Are the Challenges for Different Types of Antiques?

Wooden furniture needs pad wrapping and climate control; mirrors require custom crating; ceramics need cell-box packing; clocks need mechanisms secured separately.

How Do You Move Antique Wooden Furniture?

• Challenge: Dried joints, brittle veneer, sensitive finishes
• Solution: Pad wrapping (never tape directly on wood), climate control, horizontal transport for tables

How Do You Move Antique Mirrors and Artwork?

• Challenge: Fragile glass, delicate frames, canvas sensitivity
• Solution: Custom crating, mirror boxes, art handlers with experience

How Do You Move Antique Ceramics and Porcelain?

• Challenge: Extreme fragility, impossible to repair invisibly
• Solution: Individual wrapping, cell-box packing, hand-carry for museum pieces

How Do You Move Antique Clocks and Mechanical Items?

• Challenge: Delicate mechanisms, pendulums, weights
• Solution: Remove pendulums and weights, secure movements, specialist handling

How Do You Move Antique Textiles and Rugs?

• Challenge: Fiber deterioration, color fading, moth damage
• Solution: Roll (never fold) rugs, acid-free tissue for textiles, moth protection

What Packing Techniques Work Best for Antiques?

Never tape directly on surfaces, remove detachable parts, pad all corners, use stretch wrap as a barrier, and label items clearly as "ANTIQUE" for careful handling.

What Are the General Principles for Packing Antiques?

• Never tape on surfaces: Use stretch wrap as a barrier first
• Remove detachable parts: Handles, shelves, leaves, and pack separately
• Pad all corners: Corners are most vulnerable to damage
• Label "ANTIQUE": Alerts handlers to extra care needed

When Is Custom Crating Necessary?

For high-value pieces, custom crates provide:

• Exact-fit foam interior that immobilizes the piece
• Shock absorption from drops and vibration
• Climate stability during transport
• Stackable protection in trucks and containers

Crating adds AED 500-3,000+ per item but is essential for museum-quality pieces.

Why Is Climate Control Critical for Antique Moves in Dubai?

Dubai's extreme heat causes wood cracking, glue failure, finish softening, and canvas shrinkage—always use climate-controlled trucks maintained at 20-24C during transport.

Dubai's extreme heat poses unique risks:

• Wood Movement: Sudden temperature changes cause cracking and warping
• Glue Failure: Old hide glue softens in heat, joints separate
• Finish Damage: Shellac and varnish can soften and mark
• Canvas Shrinkage: Oil paintings on canvas contract in heat

What Are the Solutions for Heat-Related Risks?

• Climate-controlled trucks (maintained at 20-24C)
• Never leave antiques in parked vehicles
• Move during cooler hours (early morning)
• Allow acclimatization time at new location before unpacking

What Insurance Coverage Do Antiques Need During a Move?

Standard moving insurance caps at AED 50/kg which is inadequate—antiques need full value protection based on professional appraisals with documentation and photos.

Standard moving insurance is often inadequate:

• Declared Value: Standard coverage may cap at AED 50/kg
• Full Value Protection: Covers actual appraised value
• Specialized Coverage: Art and antique specific policies
• Required Documentation: Appraisals, photos, condition reports

Get insurance quotes before committing to a mover. Coverage should match the replacement value.

How Do You Choose the Right Antique Moving Company?

Look for movers with specific antique experience, climate-controlled trucks, custom crating capabilities, staff trained in art handling, and references from collectors.

Look for these qualifications:

• Experience: Ask specifically about antique moves, not just general experience
• Equipment: Climate-controlled trucks, crating capabilities
• Training: Staff trained in art and antique handling
• Insurance: Coverage appropriate for your items' value
• References: Ask for references from antique collectors or dealers

What Special Requirements Apply to International Antique Moves?

International antique moves require export permits for items over 100 years old, customs appraisals, CITES certificates for ivory or exotic materials, and cultural property clearance.

Moving antiques overseas adds complexity:

• Export Permits: Some countries require permits for items over 100 years old
• Customs Valuation: Appraisals needed for duty calculation
• CITES: Items with ivory, tortoiseshell, or exotic materials need certificates
• Cultural Property: Some antiques cannot legally leave certain countries

See our international moving services for antique shipping options.

What Should You Do After Moving Antiques?

Inspect each piece before movers leave, photograph any new damage immediately for claims, let pieces acclimate before positioning, and maintain stable temperature and humidity.

• Inspect Immediately: Check each piece before movers leave
• Document Issues: Photograph any new damage for claims
• Acclimatize: Let pieces adjust to new environment before positioning
• Avoid Sun: Keep antiques away from direct sunlight
• Stable Climate: Maintain consistent temperature and humidity

How Can You Ensure Your Antiques Survive the Move?

Invest in quality packing, climate control, and adequate insurance—the peace of mind is worth every dirham when protecting irreplaceable heirlooms that have survived centuries.

Your antiques have survived decades or centuries. With proper planning and professional handling, they will survive your move too. Invest in quality packing, climate control, and adequate insurance. The peace of mind is worth every dirham when protecting irreplaceable heirlooms.