Delivery and Shipping

How is the art and antiques trade to respond to the gloomy predictions discussed at the recent Cop27 in Egypt November 6-18)?

The art and antiques sector is already regarded as ‘green’ due to the items in question having been ‘reused’ and ‘recycled’ rather than created new each time.

Shipping is one of the largest annual costs for art and antique dealers so it’s no surprise that many look for the most cost-effective method of shipping to get orders to excited clients.

Special report on how art and antiques shipping and packing firms are meeting the challenges of festive deadlines, postal strikes, going green and Brexit.

Since Britain left the EU on January 31, 2020, and the transition period ended on December 31 that year, the way goods are moved between the UK and the EU has changed – costing more money and time.

The pandemic forced more buyers online and the trend has continued.

Auction house Sworders hopes to promote more sustainable delivery options by offering sea freight as opposed to air freight for international shipments.

New environmental laws in Germany and France mean overseas sellers of smaller items such as books are tackling another layer of red tape on top of those already presented by Brexit.

We were concerned to read the letter ‘Salerooms should get on board with in-house shipping’ (ATG No 2548).

You may take a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink. In January 2020 my wife and I lent two modest paintings to the exhibition, 'Ulysses: Art and Legend', mounted by the Musei San Domenico in Forlí.

In many ways the advance of online auction platforms has been good all round, and most auction houses have stepped up to the mark with good liaison with regard to condition reports, efficient billing, and shipping purchases at realistic prices. I factor such in-house shipping costs into my bidding.

Plans to drastically reduce the carbon emissions of the art and antiques sector by cutting air freight have been put forward by a group of art market businesses.

I have been greatly heartened by the news that Christie’s is to trial shipping by sea freight with a view to reducing the environmental impact of existing systems of packing and transport (front page, ATG No 2539).

Christie’s is to trial moving art works by sea rather than air, with the aim of drastically reducing its carbon emissions. It estimates that the switch could reduce the environmental impact by 80%.

Art and antiques dealers were temporarily banned from sending items to certain European countries after a botched list was published by the Royal Mail.

I have been a collector of early old Sheffield plate of the first period, for more than 50 years, and continue to buy at online UK auctions. I am resident in France.

Much is made about the green credentials of antiques but transporting them can affect their carbon footprint

Green issues are coming to the fore but the focus for art and antiques delivery firms in the past year has been dealing with Brexit and the pandemic.

Art hub Cromwell Place has received approval from HMRC to operate an official Customs warehouse.