A suggestion for packing plaster framed pictures

When packing plaster framed pictures... which are notoriously easy to damage, it is essential to use proper removal packaging.

So, it may not be a Botticelli...Really valuable paintings are securely crated with enough padding to ensure stability, and then moved on 'air ride' suspension systems. Sometimes meters are employed to log severe bumps. Very expensive insurance protects the movers against the worst scenarios. This insurance can only be obtained because insurers are satisfied that the safest techniques are being used. The expense will reflect the value of the piece.

There is a point when although your picture is valuable, it is not worth quite so much fuss...even though damage is unthinkable.

It might be a family heirloom which you may want to take personal responsibility for, in the course of moving house.

You need to consider the three areas of danger:

1) Damage to the frame from bumping
2) Flaking old paint from bumping
3) Spearing the picture itself (often by bumping and so breaking the picture glass)

The frame can sometimes be the most valuable part of a picture. Wooden frames are easy to protect with padded paper, but plaster frames require much more attention.

Measure the plaster frame and source (or cut), 2 pieces of cheap plywood board measuring 10cm wider and longer than the frame (giving 5cm overlap at each side).

These are the 'sacrificial' boards...The ones that can take the knocks. You have to ensure that the picture, placed squarely in the middle, can neither move off the edge of the board, nor suffer from knocks... either in handling or from bumps on the van. You will place the frame... centred...on the middle of the board, and then use bubble wrap to stop it moving off the edge of the plywood...where it can be damaged.

1) Lay out two lengths of tie measuring x3 the width of the picture. Mover’s web tie is best (or goes to your local sewing shop and get 1 inch hem liner as a substitute).

2) Lay on top some 3 ply movers paper... a heavy blanket, though not perfect, will do if need be

3) Lay out (30cm wide) bubble wrap around the 4 edges of the paper, two pieces thick. There will be 8 pieces in all.

4) Place the ply wood board onto the bubble wrap / paper.

5) Place the picture frame squarely onto the board.

6) Fold the shortest sides of the wrapping over the picture (you now have bubble-wrap protecting the under and top edges of the sides)

7) Place an equal sized piece of plywood on top of the picture... Kept off the picture by the thick wrapping you have just folded over the sides.

8) Fold up the long sides of the paper, from top and bottom and secure with parcel tape.

9) Take up the ties, make a loop in one end, pass the other end through it, and tie it off, putting minimal pressure on the package. The bubble wrap will give anti slip qualities to the package, but the pressure should just very slightly compress the package...and so ensure that the picture frame cannot move down between the plywood when the package is stood up.

So...You will need: Ties, wrapping Paper, plywood boards (or flattened cardboard boxes...according to your budget), parcel tape and bubble wrap.

When you have finished, you should be able to feel confident that the package is both shock proof, and protected from ripping.

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