Shipping & Packaging

Built for the work

Every artwork that leaves Limited Time Gallery is packed in a custom-built wooden crate, constructed specifically for that piece. There is no standard box. The crate is designed around the sculpture — its dimensions, weight, fragility, and form — and built from scratch each time.

Two custom-built plywood shipping crates of different sizes, built for artwork transportLarge white wooden shipping crate with FRAGILE markings and carrying handles

How we pack

The crate is built from plywood or OSB board, assembled with screws. Inside, each work is surrounded by bespoke foam inserts cut to hold the sculpture in place without contact pressure. Delicate elements — protruding forms, glass components, painted surfaces — are individually wrapped in bubble wrap before being set into the foam. Nothing moves in transit.

For larger or more complex works, the crate is divided into sections, with each component of the sculpture packed separately and secured within the same structure.

Sculpture wrapped in bubble wrap inside an open OSB and plywood crate with foam insertsOpen wooden crate showing sculpture components packed with foam and bubble wrapCustom dark foam inserts cut to the exact shape of the sculpture inside a wooden crateWhite foam insert with a precisely cut cavity holding a wrapped sculpture securelySculpture sitting in a custom-cut foam insert inside a plywood crateArtwork packed in foam and bubble wrap ready for shipping

Opening the crate

The crates are screwed shut and require a screwdriver to open. Unpacking instructions are included with every shipment. We recommend dismantling the crate fully — removing the sides and base — rather than trying to lift the work out from above. This is the safest way to access the sculpture without risk of contact or tipping.

Fragile by nature

The sculptures are made from biopolymer, resin, ceramic, blown glass, and hand-applied paint. These are not robust materials — they are chosen for their visual qualities, not their resilience. The packaging is where that fragility is accounted for. The crate absorbs what the artwork cannot.

Shipping costs

The cost of shipping reflects the materials, labour, and time required to build each crate. It is not a flat rate applied to every order — it is calculated based on the specific work being sent, its destination, and the carrier best suited to handle it safely. We work with freight carriers experienced in handling art and fragile objects.

If you have questions about shipping a specific work, or would like an estimate before purchasing, please get in touch.