Storing art: what you should look out for
Art storage: tips for the safe storage of artworks
Hardly any other place in the world is as emblematic of art and culture as the Austrian capital of Vienna. Numerous greats such as Schiele, Beethoven and Klimt once called this city their home and undoubtedly left their mark on the cityscape and society. Countless museums, galleries and art stores line the streets of Vienna today, which not only attracts millions of tourists every year, but also decisively shapes the love of art among the local population.
Trend and investment: collecting art
So it’s no wonder that collecting works of art of all kinds is part and parcel of life for many Viennese. Whether it’s to enhance the style of their own four walls or as a long-term investment for grandchildren and for a rainy day.
Store paintings: Safe storage with self-storage
It can be easy to accumulate more paintings, busts and other artifacts than the available living space allows. If you don’t want to part with your treasures forever, especially if they are intended as an investment, it makes sense to store them off-site.
Self-storage providers such as STORE ROOM offer the perfect space for this. However, as there are a few things to bear in mind when storing art, we would like to explain the most important things in the following lines.
Storage of artworks
Here is an overview of the most important aspects of art storage:
- Room temperature of the storage room of about 20 degrees Celsius and a humidity of 40-60%
- Avoid exposure to sunlight, natural light is less problematic
- Leave paintings in their frames during storage
- Air-permeable packaging such as wooden crates and polystyrene frames are ideal
The right indoor climate
Probably the most important factor when storing works of art is the room climate. This is especially true for oil paintings, which react very sensitively to their surroundings and are susceptible to mold or cracks in the material. Temperatures of around 20 degrees and a humidity of 40-60% are the ideal conditions for a storage room, as is normally the case in a museum. Storage in the cellar or attic is therefore generally not advisable, as the humidity there is often higher and the antique painting quickly becomes a disposable antique product.
UV light damages paintings
In addition to excessively high or low temperatures and humidity, sunlight is the greatest danger for many art objects. Photochemical processes on the canvas in direct sunlight lead to changes in the color pigments and undesirable expansion of the materials. Artificial light, on the other hand, is less problematic and can even be beneficial for the preservation of the object if the light is shone in phases. In principle, however, darkened storage compartments are ideal.
Wrapping the artwork correctly
For longer storage periods, good packaging of the objects is of course of the utmost importance. Bubble wrap or blankets are well suited for busts, statues and the like. Paintings are a little more challenging, as the materials used are usually more sensitive to their environment. It is important to leave the canvas in the frame during storage, as the paint layer can suffer considerable damage when it is rolled up. It is best to store the painting together with the supporting frame in a wooden crate, which can be additionally secured inside with polystyrene or cardboard. It is important to ensure that the painting is not packed completely airtight and that air can get in, otherwise condensation can form and there is a considerable risk of mold.
As you can see, storing works of art is not rocket science. However, there are a few important aspects to consider if you want to enjoy your painting even after long periods of storage or sell it for a good price. We hope that this article has helped you and your artworks and helped you choose the ideal storage unit, and will of course be happy to answer any further questions you may have about storing your art treasures.