This was certainly unique. A 14′ long, 700-pound Native American sculpture and matching “feasting bowl” needed to be shipped back to the original sculptor in Washington State.
The first challenge was picking them up. It was a long day traveling out to the eastern tip of Long Island to pick them up from a residence. At 700 pounds, it took some muscle, clever use of dollies and our liftgate equipped truck to safely retrieve it from the shipper. Once it was back in our shop, we were able to utilize our forklift and straps to safely lift it and load them onto the crate bases.
Due to the large size and high weight, a crate more commonly used for industrial applications was selected. Polyethylene film was used to protect the surface of the sculpture while foam pads were installed throughout the interior of the crate for cushioning. We then positioned foam-lined braces inside the crate to hold the sculptures in place.
Every shipment has a unique set of requirements. Although we have never shipped a sculpture quite like this, our experience with handling all sorts of unique items has allowed us to determine the best methods for a safe relocation.