Antiques are more than decor. From the smell of earthy wooden furniture to the reflective sheen of crystal glass, antiques offer a glimpse into the past that you just can’t find in a department store. Some collectors spend years scouring antique store shelves in search of the perfect piece. With so much care put into sourcing them, it’s only right that antiques be handled with extra care when you move.
Long-distance moving is nerve-wracking enough, and even more so when you have priceless antiques to worry about. If not handled and packed correctly, you can risk irreparable damage.
Having professional help makes all the difference during a relocation. Bekins Van Lines’ team of experts is specially trained to care for specialty items, from delicate artwork to vintage furniture, ensuring they arrive unharmed. Here’s everything you need to know about how to move antiques safely.
Why Moving Antiques Requires Special Attention
Antiques are often passed from home to home or store to store for years. Their value may increase with their rarity and age, as seen with some pieces like roll top desks, mirrors or clocks. While antique furniture or decor may become more valuable over time, a piece also becomes much more fragile.
Have you ever noticed how most museums prohibit flash photography around delicate paintings and fine art? Environmental factors can have a significant impact on antiques. Anything from light and temperature to pressure and even vibration can cause damage.
While you may have transported the antique from the store to your home (or, better yet, hired professional help), it’s essential to have someone who knows how to move antiques when you relocate. Bekins, for instance, offers climate-control packing and secure crating to protect every piece.
Pre-Move Preparation: Inventory and Appraisal
Before you even reach for bubble wrap, take photos of every antique you own. Taking inventory with photos will make unpacking easier and help you identify any chips or cracks that may have occurred during transit. Another good idea is to have your items appraised for insurance. An insurance policy for your fine art, furniture and collections offers monetary protection if something gets damaged.
As you’re tailoring your moving services with the moving agents, consider discussing valuation protection. Ensuring that the movers are aware of your big-ticket items will give them the space to handle them more carefully, especially if it’s a long-distance move.
Packing Materials You’ll Need
Once you’ve ID’d your antiques, consider your inventory a little deeper. What kind of pieces do you have? Fragile glass and crystal? Heavy trunks and desks?
Start by gathering the basics:
- Moving blankets
- Bubble wrap and packing paper
- Tape
- Corner protectors
- Furniture sliders
Specialty items require specialty supplies, including:
- Mirror boxes
- Crates
- Crate packing material
- Furniture dollies and ramps
How to Move Antique Furniture
Regular furniture is difficult enough to move, so antique furniture requires even more care. Wear gloves when handling fragile items.
Disassembly may be impossible for an older piece, but if it makes sense, consider removing any detachable parts. Keep furniture sliders on hand to get heavier furniture across the room and protect your floors.
You’ll also want cushioning to protect against bumps in the road. Corner protectors provide a good defense against stray hits during the move, and extra padding offers a bonus to protect furniture legs. Moving blankets are also your best bet for bigger fragile pieces because they provide wide coverage without ruining the integrity of the paint or wood.
How to Move an Antique Grandfather Clock
Grandfather clocks, though stunning, can be massive. Some can reach up to eight feet tall, posing an issue for narrow doorways or stairwells. Here are our mover-approved tips for how to move an antique grandfather clock:
- Start by taking pictures of the grandfather clock, inside and out. This will help when it’s time to reassemble the clock at your destination.
- Using gloves, remove any glass panels and wrap them in bubble wrap.
- Stop the pendulum. If the clock has chains, wind the hanging weights three-quarters of their length and secure them with zip ties. Use packing paper to wrap chains. If the clock has cables, add packing paper above each pulley and wind the weights to the top until the cables are tight.
- Remove weights. Most grandfather clocks have three specific weights. Remove them, wrap them in bubble wrap, and, if necessary, label them.
- Remove the pendulum. Usually, you can take it off its hook, then wrap it in bubble wrap. The same can be done for any other chimes or fragile pieces within the clock.
- If you don’t have the original packaging or custom crates, use a moving blanket to wrap the clock and secure it with tape.
As you navigate how to move an antique grandfather clock, always keep the clock upright and make sure it’s wrapped securely. It’s also a good idea to keep the detached pieces in a labeled box to keep the clock’s inner elements together.
How to Move an Antique Mirror
Antique mirrors are exquisite decor pieces. Packing mirrors correctly will ensure they arrive in one piece—literally. As you get ready to move the antique mirror, start by:
- For larger mirrors, use special mirror boxes. They have more modifications and protection than regular cardboard boxes.
- Add corner protectors to the mirror’s corners.
- Lay strips of tape in an X shape along the mirror to prevent shattering.
- Wrap the mirror in bubble wrap and make sure it’s secure.
- Slide the wrapped mirror into the mirror box and fill in any gaps with packing paper for extra cushioning.
- Label the box “fragile mirror” and ensure it’s visible to movers.
- The same process can also be repeated for packing framed artwork and posters.
When it’s time to load the mirror box, be sure not to stack it. Keep the box upright without excessive pressure during transit.
How to Move an Antique Piano or Pool Table
For the art and recreation lovers, antique pianos and pool tables are great conversation starters. But as you get ready to move, you may want to call the professionals for an uncomplicated piano move. Expert movers, like those at Bekins, can handle the size and complexity of these heavier pieces. However, you can assist in the process by:
- Removing legs and other detachable parts.
- Making sure you have the pieces’ covers or moving blankets for protection.
- Having heavy-duty dollies, ramps, furniture sliders and extra padding for easier transportation onto the moving truck.
Having professional movers on your team means you’ll have experts who know how to move an antique piano and how to move an antique pool table. We’d even consider those to be things you shouldn’t move by yourself.
How to Move an Antique Roll-Top Desk or Safe
Bulkier antique furniture is another area that may require some professional assistance. Bekins’ team is highly trained to lift heavy furniture safely, and moving equipment like dollies or ramps will also help in safe transport. Here are other tips on how to move an antique roll top desk or safe:
- Lock or secure any movable parts that may slide open.
- Use corner protectors to guard against bumps.
- It’s worth bringing up to your moving team the possibility of using climate-controlled transport for safes with sensitive contents.
The Case for Hiring Professionals
When it comes to antiques, you’ll want professionals handling those valuables. Experienced movers demonstrate extra care with fragile items and possess all the techniques to ensure they arrive unscathed amid the chaos of moving.
Bekins movers are highly trained in proper packing, so whether it’s the kitchen, bathroom or bedroom, your items will be stowed away flawlessly. They also know the safest lifting techniques to do all the heavy lifting so that you can avoid injury. From house to moving truck, their transport tools create a streamlined process from start to finish.
Hiring professionals also allows you to invest in insurance plans. Bekins, for example, offers valuation protection and liability and replacement options in the event of damage. Not only will experts care for and respect your belongings, but they’ll also grant you much-needed peace of mind during your transition.
Protecting What Matters Most
It takes time to find those one-of-a-kind vintage pieces you can’t get anywhere else. From grandfather clocks to grand pianos, you’ll want to make sure your antiques are well cared for when it’s time to move. Assess what you have, pack with care and time and hire professional and trustworthy movers who can take on the task.
Bekins has an entire network of agents and movers who can tailor your moving plan to your exact needs. Our movers exhibit careful, white-glove service to treat your heirlooms and high-value antiques with the respect they deserve. Contact us for a free estimate and connect with a local agent today.
