International Sculpture Shipping

[sculptorsam]

I'm looking for any carriers that ship larger sculptures internationally. Anybody have any experience? Are there any universal size issues to keep in mind, i.e. over 8 feet in any direction increases price? Any help will be appreciated.

Sam

[rderr.com]

Sam

This is an area where size realy does mater. I've a friend (other joke) that ships earth moving equiptment from Europe to Latin America and just by letting the air out of tires makes a, simple-too-double diffference in price. Unfortunlatly I've no attachment to "illustrate".

Robert

[sculptorsam]

Originally Posted by rderr.com

Sam

This is an area where size realy does mater. I've a friend (other joke) that ships earth moving equiptment from Europe to Latin America and just by letting the air out of tires makes a, simple-too-double diffference in price. Unfortunlatly I've no attachment to "illustrate".

Robert

That reminds me of a story I once saw on TV (I believe). A semi was carrying an oversized load of construction equipment and ran into a problem trying to pass through a tunnel. All the engineers stood around tinkering with things trying to lose a couple inches of height. Then, a little girl comes along and says, "why not just let some air out of the tires." So they did and the semi was able to pass through. Nice story.

Sam

[Araich]

A friend in the US who returned to exhibit in Sydney shipped his show of bronzes by air. He said that it worked out the same by the time you factor in port charges and handling. Doesn't sound right to me, but that's what he said.
As for size, by sea, just limit to the inside of a standard shipping container. To be safe keep under: 19' x 7'5" x 7'5". BUT check with your carrier first.

What you doing anyway?

[sculptorsam]

Originally Posted by Araich

What you doing anyway?

Right now I'm just gathering information. And I figured others might be interested in the information as well. But yes, I have my eye on the Land Down Under as well as the occassional EU show that crosses my path. I don't like making uninformed decisions.

Sam

[JAZ]

Originally Posted by sculptorsam

Right now I'm just gathering information. And I figured others might be interested in the information as well. But yes, I have my eye on the Land Down Under as well as the occassional EU show that crosses my path. I don't like making uninformed decisions.

Sam

Bob Emser, ISC Featured Sculptor, has a short essay on this subject. Check out the ISC site, to read it. Then go to Bob's www.bobemser.com. He's shown work in Australia and other countries. He gets around. You will see that one of his strategies is to build things that partially come apart and he uses white nylon fabric to arrive at scale with less weight. Smart move when the objective is shipping things for distant shows.

[Araich]

I met Bob brieftly during Sculpture by the Sea in 2002, his work was sited very close to mine along the coast. I don't remember if his sold locally, but ironically mine ended up being shipped to the US. All 9 foot and 250kg of it. Fortunately the freight was done by the client, but I also need to get some experience in international transport.
Keep us posted Sam, and anyone else with stories please dive in.
What a bout taxes and customs duty for instance?

[JAZ]

Originally Posted by Araich

I met Bob brieftly during Sculpture by the Sea in 2002, his work was sited very close to mine along the coast. I don't remember if his sold locally, but ironically mine ended up being shipped to the US. All 9 foot and 250kg of it. Fortunately the freight was done by the client, but I also need to get some experience in international transport.
Keep us posted Sam, and anyone else with stories please dive in.
What a bout taxes and customs duty for instance?

June is cool, but the best I think is Full Circle. Smart idea. You seem to be doing so very well in terms of sales. How active are you in pursuing sales? I'm absolutely no good at that at all. It seems that some people really make a difference by their approach with prospective clients while others rely on gallery reps and their personal reputations.

[robertpulley]

Where does one start with the question of international shipping or shipping in country for that matter? A gallery shipped an already discounted piece of mine from Indianapolis to Santa Fe and says it was a break even deal. He spent a week trying to find someone who would ship art at all much less at a price he felt good about. Anyone have an opinion about Common Carriers vs. Art Movers? I have always moved my work myself in a regional area and would like to expand my exposure, but that would mean crating and shipping and I need to know if it is economically feasable to me.
Bob

[jwebb]

I have shipped pieces (stone and welded steel pieces) up to about 100 lbs to North Carolina, California, and New Mexico, by UPS and Fedex. They are comparably spendy, for me anyway. Up to > $100 round trip. But they ensure the work and give good service and traceability. In every case, I've built my own boxes, with wood frames and plywood, screwed on. There may be better and cheaper and easier ways, but I haven't found them.

[robertpulley]

UPS is the way I would go too if my work would fit in their max size container. My work is not heavy but most pieces are 4'x2'x18" or there abouts. I need to just start calling around.
Bob

[sculptor]

I have used fedX freight
they pick up at the studio and ship anywhere--- I crate it with lots of foam packing material, and built in grab handles.
--for their insurance purposes,I describe the art as archetectural ornament if it is to be attached which is 95% of time....the rest, I just crate well and worry alot.

they even offer next day air-----but it's pricey
customer always pays shipping
always
always
always
have you ever bought anything large without paying shipping?
customer always pays shipping, including insurance.

[William_Allen]

Contact me - I work in the shipping Industry

William A Allen
Cell - 630.479.8827

[pachyderm]

Originally Posted by sculptorsam

I'm looking for any carriers that ship larger sculptures internationally. Anybody have any experience? Are there any universal size issues to keep in mind, i.e. over 8 feet in any direction increases price? Any help will be appreciated.

Sam

This topic is spread over multiple threads, and while old, I think my question would fit best here. I'm also looking into shipping a sculpture internationally, from Poland to the US, about a cubic meter and weighing several hundred kilos. I think. It hasn't been poured yet (hollow-cast bronze) tonofelephant mentioned a company called unishippers but he hasn't had any experience with using them for international shipments.

Due to weight, I would need to ship via ocean freight. So, the question is, has anybody had any experience using international freight companies or such shipping services like unishippers?

And Sam, did you find anything of interest in your original research?

[tonofelephant]

Hi,

Definitely consider Air Freight. Had a friend in New Mexico that shipped like 15,000 lbs of stone over from Italy. He told me that it was cheaper in time, hassle and money to go air freight. I was floorred. Thought ocean freight would have been way to go.

As to Unishipper, they also go international. As a disclaimer I have no stock or financial interest in Unishipper.

Carl

[Merlion]

I agree, unlike years ago, we should not rule out air-freight even for heavy sculptures. Just find out and compare, both price and convenience.