When does an antique need a custom wooden crate for shipping?

Crating is often recommended for items that are very fragile, very valuable, top-heavy, or have parts that cannot be protected by blankets and boxes alone. Examples include marble tops, large mirrors, glass-front cabinets, stained glass, sculpture, large paintings with glass, chandeliers and pieces going overseas.

A properly built crate is braced so the item cannot shift, and the inside is padded or the piece is floated with foam. Crates also allow forklifts to move the shipment safely and protect against items stacked on top.

Crating adds cost and weight, so it is not needed for everything. Sturdy furniture traveling with a dedicated blanket-wrap carrier often arrives fine without one. Ask a shipper who handles antiques for their recommendation, and for international shipments, ask whether the crate wood must meet treatment rules for the destination country.