Custom Fine Art Crating

“Improper and cheap protection for your valuable artwork is like bringing home your newborn baby and putting her to bed in the backyard doghouse. You wouldn’t do it.”
— Wise Old Crate Tech

Archival material, bespoke slipcases, collared soft-pack for untouchables, cavity-pack for tricky 3D art, folios for works on paper, and travel frames with oz clips—all of these and more are fabricated in-house according to your budget and desired protection level.  From affordable commercial to durable multi-use to high-end museum specifications, our master craftsmen crate techs use proven design and construction techniques to keep your valuable property safe.  But we don’t just rely on our three decades of experience, we still send our techs to PACCIN to keep up with the latest innovations in the industry.

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A man with a beard and tattoo on his arm is securing a strap on a wooden crate in a workshop or garage environment with wooden walls and metal rails.
A man in black clothes and gloves is moving a large wooden crate with a pallet jack in an art studio or gallery, surrounded by colorful abstract paintings and wooden sculptures.
Person moving a large wooden crate in front of an art installation with colorful, patterned fabric artwork.
A stairwell with a mannequin dressed in a blue T-shirt, and various wooden crates stacked against the white brick wall.
Large blue and white shipping containers, some labeled 'fragile,' placed in a warehouse with concrete floors, wooden pallets, and exposed pipes.

In-House Crate Shops

  • Crate shops in all Atelier 4 locations: NY, LA, Miami & Charlotte.

  • Reduces unnecessary art handling and transit time.

  • Fully stocked for nearly any fine art packing scenario.

  • Custom-built crates ensure maximum protection.

  • In-house air freight department for seamless coordination.

Expertise & Custom Solutions

  • Cost-efficient integration with transport and freight services

  • Well-versed in national and international shipping regulations

  • Experts in specialty materials and innovative crate design

  • Hands-on problem solving for complex or unconventional objects

Skilled Crate Fabrication

  • Full-time crate techs with benefits ensure consistency and quality

  • Crate shop designs meet or exceed museum and gallery standards

  • USDA APHIS–compliant wood avoids customs delays

  • Builds range from affordable commercial to luxury museum-grade

  • 30+ years of crating experience and continuous education via PACCIN

Need Something Packaged?

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Our Clients

“I’ve been advising art collectors for the better part of three decades. I always refer to A4. They’re not the cheapest, and they’re not the most expensive, but I know that they’ll treat my clients well and their service will be flawless.”

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Our clients’ discretion is our #1 priority.

All Services

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We use only archival, museum-quality materials to ensure the safest possible handling of your artwork. Depending on the medium, we may use acid-free tissue, glassine, Tyvek, polyethylene foam, bubble wrap, corner protectors, and custom supports. You choose the standard of fabrication—from affordable commercial to durable multi-use to luxury museum models—and our carpentry nerds will use sustainable materials (where possible) and proven design techniques that will keep your artwork safe.

  • Yes. All Atelier 4 crates are custom-built in-house and engineered to comply with ATA (Air Transport Association) and IATA (International Air Transport Association) guidelines. We use USDA APHIS-compliant wood, which is pre-screened to avoid delays at international customs.