Is it possible to carry paintings in the cabin of an airplane? Is it possible to carry a painting in hand luggage? The technical side of the issue of transporting the painting

Information on the topic of transporting paintings by plane is offered on many forums, but after scrolling through the message feed, you may immediately realize that their authors quite often offer information that contradicts each other. We have tried to put together the main requirements for air transportation of works of art and invite you to familiarize yourself with them later. But, given that any company serves passengers according to its own regulations, it is better to contact the company manager in advance to clarify the details of how to transport paintings on an airplane.

The technical side of the issue of transporting a painting Transportation in a tube

In order to transport a painting by plane, you need to remove the canvas from the stretcher and roll it up with the pattern facing inward. Then the easiest thing will be to choose a tube of the appropriate size for the roll. Before placing it in a tube, it is recommended to wrap the canvas in cardboard or paper and cover the ends with tape.

Shipping in a box

In some cases, rolling up a work of art threatens to lose its presentation. For example, craquelure may appear on the oil layer, and in addition there is a risk of tearing the paper web. Under such conditions, paintings are transported in a special plastic folder for painters or a wooden box.

The painting is allowed to be transported both in the cargo compartment of the aircraft and in the cabin. Along with this, if the size of the box does not allow it to be placed in the compartment for hand luggage above your seat, you can ask the flight attendant for help in finding a suitable place for the painting.

How to transport a work of art by plane without any trouble? Yes, quite: the place is near the emergency exit, and there will be plenty of space next to you in order to rest the picture on the wall at your feet.

Transporting antique paintings on an airplane

When exporting works of art abroad, quite often we talk about antique items. The canvas may have been painted a couple of centuries ago, and unnecessary manipulations with it can harm the integrity of the canvas, and in many cases the frame is of high value. Please note that during unloading and loading, fragile items may be damaged beyond repair.

In order to avoid similar misunderstandings, follow a simple condition: transportation of paintings by plane must be carried out in wooden boxes, and the works of art themselves must be wrapped in bubble cellophane.

We remind you that any company sets personal requirements for the weight and dimensions of hand luggage, on the basis of which rules for transporting paintings by plane are created.

For example, the Aeroflot company allows you to carry hand luggage on board weighing up to 15 kg in business class, 10 kg in comfort and economy class, the dimensions of hand luggage are the same for everyone - up to 115 cm in the sum of three sides.

How to legally register luggage in the form of a painting for transportation by plane?

You already understand how to transport a painting by plane across Russia. Now let’s look at the question of how to transport works of art across the border, taking into account the registration of all necessary documents. To ensure that transporting paintings by plane does not cause problems, go ahead and evaluate the works of art in advance and obtain permits for their export.

To do this, you need to contact the Work for the Preservation of Cultural Treasures and the Department of Culture of the Russian Federation.

To receive a timely response to your request, you must provide these authorities with the following documents:

a request to transport a painting abroad;

certificate of registration of a legal entity / photocopy of a foreign passport;

details of the canvas: artist, year of painting, dimensions of the canvas, name of the technique, certificate or check from the author;

3 photos of the canvas in full size, signed with the details of the canvas.

Transporting paintings by air to another country may require additional fees and charges. customs declaration– at a time when a work of art represents a high cultural treasure for the country. In another case, guided by the rules for transporting antiques by plane, you may not be allowed to leave Russia.

Information on this topic Numerous forums offer, but after scrolling through a few message threads, you will see that commentators often offer conflicting advice. We have tried to structure the basic requirements for transporting works of art in a single article. But since each air operator has its own internal regulations for serving passengers, we recommend visiting the website or calling the company’s managers to find out how to transport the painting by plane.

How is transporting a painting on an airplane technically carried out?

Transportation in a tube

To transport a painting by plane, you need to remove the canvas from the stretcher and carefully roll it with the back side inward. Next, the easiest way is to use a tube of the appropriate size. You can also wrap the canvas in parchment paper and cardboard, covering the ends with tape.

Transporting paintings in a box

There are cases when it is simply impossible to roll a piece of art into a “tube” due to disastrous consequences, for example, when there is a risk of craquelures forming on the oil layer or the paper web being torn. In this case, to transport paintings by plane, you can use a special plastic folder for artists, which has the appropriate diagonal, or choose a wooden box. Carriage on an airplane can be carried out both in the luggage compartment and in the cabin - if the luggage is not included in the hand luggage compartment above the seat, it is better to ask the flight attendant in advance to find a suitable place for it. How to transport a painting on a plane without any hassle? Buy a seat near the emergency exit, and you will have enough space to lean it against the wall at your feet without disturbing anyone.

Transporting antique paintings on an airplane

In this case, we are often talking about antiques. The canvas may have been painted several centuries ago, so unnecessary manipulations may harm its integrity, and the frame itself may be of separate value. Please remember that misunderstandings may occur during loading and unloading and the fragile artwork will be damaged beyond repair. A simple rule will help you avoid unnecessary problems: transportation of paintings by plane should be carried out in wooden boxes with a layer of pimply cellophane.

We remind you that each air carrier has its own requirements for the weight and dimensions of hand luggage, which determine the rules for transporting paintings by plane. So, on Aeroflot planes in business class you can carry hand luggage up to 15 kg, and in comfort and economy class up to 10 kg - both with dimensions up to 115 cm in the sum of three sides.

Legal baggage clearance to transport a painting on an airplane

You already know how to transport a painting on a plane across Russia. Now we will tell you how to transport a painting across the border, taking into account the design of the entire necessary documentation. So, to ensure that transporting paintings on an airplane does not cause problems, it is necessary to evaluate the work of art in advance and obtain permission to export it to other countries. To do this, you need to contact the Department of Culture of the Russian Federation and the Service for the Preservation of Cultural Property.

You can receive a quick response to your request if you provide a complete package of documents:

Photocopy of international passport / certificate of registration of a legal entity;
application for transportation of a painting on an airplane outside the Russian Federation;
Canvas details: Full name artist, year of writing, name of technique, dimensions of the canvas, receipt or certificate from the author;
3 photos of canvases with duplicate details.

Transporting paintings by air abroad may require additional data to be entered into the customs declaration and payment of duties - if the work is of high cultural value. Otherwise, according to the rules for transporting paintings by plane, you may not be allowed to leave your homeland.

Paintings are property that is difficult to value. Its cost depends on a lot of factors - quality, artistic value, fame of the artist. From a transportation point of view, a painting is a fragile cargo that requires careful packaging and careful transportation. And if we are talking about crossing the border, then also declarations. If the painting is a national treasure, it will be extremely difficult (if not impossible) to take it out of the country.

How are paintings transported?

Works of art can be damaged irrevocably: if ordinary cargo can be purchased again, receiving compensation from transport company or insurance, then you are unlikely to find a painting identical to the damaged one (unless we are talking about a mass-produced product). Yes, oil paintings can be restored, but restoration is not always possible.

Negative factors when transporting paintings

Mechanical impacts: shaking, shock, excessive load on the frame. The most susceptible to these effects are paintings under glass (for example, watercolors), as well as works without frames made on paper. However, it is possible to ruin an oil painting if it is not well protected. Therefore, in any case, the paintings are packed in boxes or laid out on pallets.
Dirt and water. Neither one nor the other is dangerous for the work performed oil paints: after minor restoration they will become as good as new (dried oil can even be washed). Watercolors, graphics, paintings made with tempera are a different matter. Even if the works are placed under glass, they can deteriorate: frames with glass are not sealed enough, and water, dirt, or just dust can get inside. Paper, unlike oiled canvas, cannot be washed. Therefore, such paintings protect against water and dirt.
Changes in temperature and humidity. Many paintings can only be stored under certain conditions. It's not just about temperature, but also about humidity. Thus, paper at a high level of humidity may become wet, warp, or become moldy. Too low humidity makes paper brittle. Old works are especially sensitive to changes in humidity levels.

How to protect paintings from dirt and water, but at the same time not increase the humidity level? Film and other sealed packaging are not suitable: without air circulation, moisture begins to condense and the paper becomes wet. Therefore, most often, paintings are protected from dust by wrapping them in wrapping paper, and transported in special vehicles or compartments prepared for valuable cargo.

How are paintings transported?

Paintings are rarely transported in wholesale quantities. However, sometimes it is required. They use air transport, ships, trains, cars, that is, all types of transport.

Air transportation

Airplanes are usually used to transport especially valuable paintings. These can be works of art by famous artists, classics of the past. Optimal conditions must be created in the cargo compartment where the painting will be located. The mode is selected depending on the material and technique used by the artist.

Maritime transport

When it comes to large quantities of goods, paintings that are not of particular artistic value are usually transported by sea vessel. These could be decorative elements created in China and purchased by a trading company from Russia. They are transported in sealed containers, with other cargo, on pallets or in strong boxes.

Rail transport

This type of transport is used for transporting wholesale quantities, and much less often for individual paintings. They are placed in a container or closed freight car. As on a ship, it is important to ensure tightness and optimal temperature conditions.

Cars

Cars are used as auxiliary transport for the transportation of wholesale quantities, and also as the main means of delivery when it comes to short distances. The painting is packaged, placed on a pallet, or secured in some way in the back of a car.

Transportation of paintings across the state border

With intercity transportation, as well as with delivery works of art from other countries to Russia, usually there are no problems. It’s another matter if you need to take the painting outside the country. The purposes may be different: exhibition, giving as a gift, simply selling to a foreign buyer. The export of works of art that are of cultural value and are registered with the state is prohibited.

Therefore, you need to prepare to cross the border. The ease of registration depends on what items you are carrying:

A wholesale batch of factory-made paintings will be allowed across the border without any problems if all the documents for the goods are drawn up (in particular, bills, invoices, etc.);
Still damp paintings (those that were painted a day or two before departure and did not have time to dry). The customs officer will probably miss such paintings, but there is still a risk of delay: customs officers are not required to understand the art and techniques of painting and may not allow even a raw canvas to pass through.
Ready-made original works. They will be the ones with the most difficulties.

Even if you painted the painting yourself, and did not just buy it from some artist, you need to prove to customs officers that it does not have cultural value(at least for now), that is, it is not registered with the state and is not part of the national heritage. They do this at the Rossvyazohrankultura branch, where they issue a referral for examination by specialists, and then provide a certificate. Experts check whether the painting is a work famous artist, whose work became the property of Russia. If this is not the case, you will receive a certificate and will be able to clear customs. It is worth registering it in advance - several weeks before the trip.

If the painting has cultural value, you need to obtain special permission from government authorities to transport it abroad. Otherwise, criminal liability is possible.

There are several ways to export paintings abroad. The most popular and convenient of them is transportation by plane.

Self-removal of paintings by aircraft is preferable in the following cases:

If you need to take your work to a foreign exhibition, which requires the personal presence of the artist/owner of the work;
In a situation where it is planned to export an artistic canvas as a gift;
If the painting is sold and the artist wishes to personally hand over the valuable cargo to the buyer on the spot;
If you need to move abroad for permanent residence.

We follow the letter of the law

The export of works of art (in particular, paintings) is regulated by the Law of the Russian Federation on the transportation of cultural property.

There are three key points in this law:

Only their legal owner or authorized representative has the right to export cultural property. The power of attorney must be formalized legally in accordance with the law;
When transporting, you must have proof of ownership of the cargo being exported;
Among the accompanying documents, it is necessary to have a certificate from the Ministry of Culture for the Central Federal District about the cultural value of the work.

Along with this, it should be taken into account that each airline may have its own requirements for the transportation of specific and valuable cargo. And these rules change quite often. Therefore, it is better to clarify the details with the selected air carrier in advance.

It would be a good idea to take into account the general standards for transporting art objects.

Getting ready for the examination

As a rule, to independently export paintings abroad, only a positive expert opinion is sufficient.

This procedure is necessary to confirm the authenticity of the painting, its cultural value and the legality of export.

The examination is carried out by specialists determined by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and is a paid service.

To carry out the operation, the following documents will be required:

Statement from the owner indicating personal data and description of the painting;
When exporting two or more paintings, a list of works will be required;
Photographs of each piece of art on both sides (front and back) 10*15 cm in duplicate;
Copy of passport (page spread with photo + registration).

If the desire to export the paintings does not run counter to the law, the applicant will successfully receive permission for this procedure.

Packaging is a guarantee of safety

Correctly chosen packaging will ensure the delivery of valuable cargo safe and sound. When choosing packaging material, you should take into account the size of the painting.

If the dimensions allow for transportation as hand luggage, then a tube can be used as packaging. A tube made of multilayer cardboard will protect the canvas from mechanical stress and contamination and will be very inexpensive.

A small canvas can be packed in a plastic folder or cardboard box. It is only necessary that the dimensions correspond to the size of acceptable hand luggage: no more than 10 kg of weight (no more than 15 kg when flying in business class). The sum of the dimensions of the three sides should be no more than 115 cm.

When transporting large canvases or several paintings at once, plywood or wooden boxes are used. Transportation is carried out in the luggage compartment.

Professional assistance in transporting paintings

If you value your time, entrust the care of packing valuable cargo and preparing documents to the ArtPost company.

We offer at your service:

Quickly passing the examination in one day, followed by obtaining a certificate and permission from the Department of the Ministry of Culture: an invaluable plus in a force majeure situation when deadlines are running out;
High-quality and careful packaging of paintings by a professional team.

If you have any questions, we will be happy to provide you with a free consultation.

How to pack a painting? There are probably no artists or art owners who have not faced this issue. Even in order to bring it to a neighboring house, you need to protect the painting. What can we say when it comes to the transcontinental movement of paintings.

Purpose of packaging

We think this point does not require clarification. Safety, integrity, presentation of the author (if for sale) - these are the goals of packaging. Agree, it’s not entirely pleasant to receive a damaged painting. Moreover, if it was purchased for serious money and is intended to become a decoration for a living room or collection.

And the author probably doesn’t want the creation, which he may have pored over for days and evenings, to suffer only because it was improperly packaged. Therefore, certain rules must be followed in order to achieve the goal of timely and complete delivery to the recipient, wherever he is.

Packaging materials

The choice of packaging materials depends on the form in which the work of art will be delivered to its destination: in the form of a roll or framed in a baguette. Popular (and truly effective) packaging materials include:

Bubble wrap. It is needed to fill the space and create a kind of wall between the work of art and external factors;
Packing tape;
Glassine to preserve the color scheme and prevent its distortion due to contact with other packaging materials;
Expanded polystyrene. Gently protects against hard structures from the outside.
Protective cardboard corners. It is clear that we are talking about the integrity of the whole picture.
PVC pipes or other material if you plan to transport the painting rolled up.

How to pack a painting in a baguette

Transporting a painting in a baguette is perhaps the best thing a customer/collector/exhibition curator dreams of. But for the author/owner of the painting, this is an additional concern, because it is necessary to make or select a wooden sheathing that will protect the work from damage.

The following points are taken into account:

Sheets of plywood are used for sheathing;
The painting is wrapped in glassine for transportation;
The space between the painting and the sheathing is filled with polystyrene foam so that the painting inside cannot move even a millimeter;
Be sure to indicate where the removable cover is located. And on the sheathing, print the word “Fragile” in large print so that it immediately catches the eye.

How to pack a painting without a baguette

Need to post a painting without a frame? Well, it’s more economical and easier than using sheathing. To do this, you need to roll up the painting and send it in a tube to its destination. This is where a pipe made of polyvinyl chloride or other durable but lightweight material for packing the painting comes in handy. You can buy them at a hardware store.

In order for the painting to reach its final destination safe and sound, the following points must be observed:

The picture is covered with glassine on both sides, and this protective material protrudes slightly at the edges even when rolled;
You need two tubes that fit into each other according to the “matryoshka” principle;
A painting in the form of a roll is placed in a tube with a smaller diameter, and everything is wrapped in bubble wrap in such a way as to ensure reliable protection from moisture;
The tube with the picture is placed in a large tube, the voids are filled with bubble wrap, and the ends are closed with lids.

Don't forget to mark what's inside as "Fragile"!