Safely shipping and packing glass art | Eliassen

Shipping glass art takes more than just a sturdy box. Whether you are sending a glass vase, glass sculpture, paperweight, or glass painting: the risk of breakage often isn’t in the glass itself, but in movement, pressure points and insufficient protection during transport. If you want to ship and pack glass art safely, think in layers: immobilise, fill, protect, and only then ship.

On this page you’ll learn how mailing glass can be done safely, what to watch out for per type of object, and why size, weight and shape make the difference. This way you prevent damage and know how fragile glass art can travel safely within the Netherlands and Belgium.

Why glass art needs extra careful packing

Glass art is delicate, but not every object is fragile in the same way. A compact glass miniature carries different risks than a tall mouth-blown vase or a wall-mounted glass artwork. During transport, shocks, vibrations and external pressure occur. Protruding parts, narrow necks, sharp corners and uneven weight distribution make an artwork more susceptible to damage.

That’s why packing glass art safely is always custom work. The goal is not just to shield the glass, but above all to prevent it from moving inside the packaging. As soon as an object has room to slide or tap against the box, the risk of breakage rises immediately. Good packing therefore means: tight, stable and shock-absorbing.

How can I send glass by post?

If you’re wondering how best to mail glass, it helps to follow a fixed order. First protect the object itself, then fill empty space, and finally choose an outer box strong enough for the artwork’s weight and size. A fragile item placed loosely in a box with some paper is almost never sufficient in practice.

For safe glass shipping, double protection is usually the smartest approach. This means the glass art is first wrapped individually in protective material and then placed in a sturdy shipping box with extra cushioning all around. This is especially important for exclusive or handmade glass art, because even small blemishes can affect appearance and value.

Packing glass art in 4 practical steps

1. Protect the glass surface

Always start with a soft first layer around the object. This protects the surface against scratches and light pressure. It’s especially important for glossy glass, crystal glass and decorative finishes. Make sure the first layer fits closely without putting stress on delicate parts.

2. Add shock absorption

After the first protective layer, shock absorption is required. Use material that absorbs impacts during sorting, lifting and delivery. This is essential when shipping glass safely, because a hard impact at a single point can already be enough to cause a crack or break.

3. Prevent movement in the box

The biggest mistake when shipping fragile art is often too much empty space. Void fill should ensure the object cannot slide, tilt or rotate. If you gently shake the box, you shouldn’t hear or feel anything moving.

4. Choose a sturdy outer box

The box must suit the size and weight. Too large creates excessive play; too small puts pressure on the object. A good shipping box for glass art is rigid, retains its shape and withstands stacking pressure during transport.

Which glass art needs extra protection?

Not every glass artwork is packed the same way. These types in particular require extra attention:

• Glass vases with a narrow neck or wide rim
• Glass sculptures with protruding shapes
• Glass animals and miniatures with fine details
• Glass lamps and decorative objects with multiple parts
• Glass paintings and wall-mounted glass art
• Crystal glass with sharp lines or heavier mass

For these objects, shape is often more important than size alone. A small artwork with thin protruding parts can be more vulnerable than a larger, compact piece. That’s why safely packing glass art always calls for attention to the specific design and techniques used.

Shipping glass by type of artwork

Vases, bowls and round objects

Round shapes may seem sturdy, but are sensitive to pressure on the rim and neck. Good all-round support prevents stress from concentrating at one point. This is especially important with mouth-blown glass, as small differences in thickness can affect load-bearing capacity.

Glass sculptures and glass animals

With sculptures, the risk often lies in protruding parts such as legs, heads, tails or abstract points. Those parts should never sit directly against the outer side of the box. Protection must ensure that delicate elements are free from direct impact.

Glass paintings and wall-mounted glass art

Flat glass art needs a different approach than three-dimensional objects. Here the focus is on protection against bending, front pressure and stress on the corners. Corner protection and a sturdy, flat package are extra important. After transport, paying attention to Hanging and protecting glass wall art is also important.

Will the artwork be placed outdoors? Then read our advice on Glass art for outdoors: placement and maintenance.

Common mistakes when shipping fragile glass art

• Using a box that’s too large, allowing the object to slide
• Only protecting the outside and not immobilising the glass inside
• Not supporting delicate protruding parts individually
• Using too little void fill
• Choosing a box that isn’t strong enough for the weight or size
• Thinking a sticker with "fragile" provides enough protection

A warning sticker can help, but it never replaces good packaging. If you want to ship glass safely, assume a parcel will be handled multiple times and may temporarily be stacked under other packages.

Is shipping glass more expensive?

Yes, shipping glass can be more expensive than a standard parcel. That’s mainly due to extra packing materials, a sturdier box and sometimes a larger shipping volume. It also takes more time to pack carefully. For glass art this isn’t a luxury, but a necessity to prevent damage and disappointment.

Still, more expensive doesn’t mean unnecessarily expensive. Good packaging prevents returns, breakage and loss of value. Especially for unique or handmade pieces, safe packing almost always outweighs the cost of damage.

When is showroom advice or personal help a good idea?

For exceptional, large or awkwardly shaped glass art, personal advice is often the safest choice. This applies, for example, to taller vases, exclusive sculptures or glass artworks that aren’t standard in shape. It’s helpful when someone thinks along about size, weak points and a suitable way to pack and ship.

At Eliassen, service comes first. You can order online, but you can also view the collection in the large store and showroom in Ammerzoden. That’s useful if you want to see glass art in real life first or have questions about size, material and transport. Eliassen delivers throughout the Netherlands and Belgium and offers a wide range of glass art, from small decorative pieces to larger artworks for home, office and reception areas.

Order glass art online and have it delivered safely

When you buy glass art online, you mainly want certainty that the artwork arrives neatly and well protected. That’s why safely packed transport is so important for fragile decoration and glass art. Especially with handmade collections, mouth-blown glass and exclusive objects, you don’t want to leave this to chance. You can also find more practical information about Shipping and returns online.

Eliassen combines a webshop with personal service from a family business. Thanks to in-house imports, a competitively priced range and experience with special home decor and art objects, you benefit from quality at a sharp price. Discover our Glass art collection – carefully packed and shipped.

Frequently asked questions about safely shipping and packing glass art

How can I mail glass with minimal risk of breakage?

By first protecting the glass individually, then packing it with shock absorption, and finally securing it firmly in a suitable box. Movement inside the packaging is the biggest risk factor.

How should I ship glass if it’s a unique artwork?

Unique glass art needs extra attention to shape, weight and delicate parts. A standard approach doesn’t always work. For exclusive pieces, custom protection and void fill are especially important.

Is double boxing necessary for glass art?

In many cases, yes. An inner layer protects the object itself, while the outer packaging absorbs shocks and pressure from outside. That significantly reduces the chance of damage.

What is harder to ship: a glass vase or a glass painting?

It depends on the shape. A tall vase is sensitive to pressure and tipping, while a glass painting is mainly vulnerable to bending and corner damage. Both require a different packing approach, and it also depends on the difference between crystal and glass.

Can I view glass art in the showroom first?

Yes, at Eliassen you can order online and also visit the large store and showroom in Ammerzoden. Ideal if you prefer to assess glass art in person first or want personal advice.

Does Eliassen deliver glass art only in the Netherlands?

No, Eliassen also delivers in Belgium. This way you can have glass art safely delivered to different addresses within the Benelux. After delivery you can read more about Maintenance and cleaning of glass art.