By paying attention to the following simple suggestions, you can prevent damage to your newly acquired art:
Paintings
1. Do not carry or lift more than one painting, at a time.
2. Large paintings (greater than 100 cms or 4 feet) should be carried by two or more persons.
3. The proper position to carry paintings is to place one hand underneath, where the frame is strong and the other hand on the side. Do not carry the painting by the stretcher or by the top.
4. Paintings should not be stacked on top of one another, especially without a composition sheet (i.e., cardboard or foam core) separating them.
5. When placing paintings on the floor, they should rest on either pads or a padded surface.
6. Avoid physical contact with the painted surface. If you are not an expert do not attempt to eliminate spots, dirt or small scratches with your hands or with a cloth.
7. Wear clean cotton gloves when handling or cleaning frames.
8. If the paint is flaking, save the detached part. It is easier to repair the painting, if all the parts are available.
Sculptures
1. Carry only one sculpture, whether small or large, at a time.
2. Do not attempt to carry large or heavy sculptures alone. Such handling can result in physical injury to you or damage to the piece.
3. Examine the piece before handling it. Look for fragile parts of the artwork.
4. When moving one piece at a time, please ensure that one of the hands is placed underneath the sculpture.
5. Do not carry or move the piece by its delicate rims or projections. These tend to be the easiest to break.
6. Use clean gloves when handling sculptures. If the object has a smooth surface and handling it with a gloved hand is difficult, please ensure that your hands are clean.
Works on Paper – Drawings, Paintings, Watercolors & Graphic Prints
1. Use clean hands, preferably with clean gloves, while handling such art.
2. Carry or move unmounted / unframed pieces by lifting the upper corners. Try to avoid bending, cracking or tearing of such works.
3. When carry such pieces, support them a clean cardboard.
4. Do not stack them on top of another, unless they are matted or framed or separated by a cellophane or tissue paper.
5. Avoid contact with other printed materials, newspapers.
6. Always cover unframed pieces with acid-free tissue paper or cellophane, to protect it from dust and physical contact.
7. Try not to rub one work on paper, with another.
8. Do not expose the artworks to direct or indirect sunlight.