Delivered Worldwide
Three months of hand stitching deserves more than a padded envelope. Every finished panel is packed as a small work of art and shipped with tracking and full insurance.
How a panel is packed
An embroidered silk panel is sensitive to three things in transit: pressure on the stitched surface, moisture, and flexing of the frame. Our standard packing addresses each one:
- The embroidered face is covered with acid-free tissue so nothing touches the stitches directly.
- The framed piece is wrapped, then fixed inside a fitted wooden crate with corner protection, so the glass or silk never carries the load.
- Silica gel and a moisture barrier go inside the crate; unframed panels are rolled on a wide core with the embroidery facing outwards, never folded.
Shipments are tracked end to end and insured for the full value of the piece. We photograph the panel and the packed crate before dispatch, which also serves as a condition record if a claim is ever needed.
On arrival: the first ten minutes
Unpack in a dry room, on a flat surface, and keep the tissue in place until the piece is positioned. Let a framed panel acclimatise for a few hours before hanging, especially after a long flight or a cold winter delivery — this avoids condensation forming behind the glazing. Check the frame corners and the glazing while the crate is still open, and let us know immediately if anything looks wrong.
Why hand-stitched pieces travel differently
Machine-made prints are uniform and replaceable; a hand-embroidered panel is a single object with hundreds of hours of work in it, and with small intentional variations in stitch direction and shade. Insurance, condition photographs and careful packing are not luxuries here — they are the only sensible way to move a one-off piece. This is also why we recommend keeping the crate if you ever need to move or store the work.
Customs and documentation
International orders include a commercial invoice describing the item as a hand-embroidered silk artwork, with materials and country of origin stated plainly. Import duties vary by destination and are normally the buyer's responsibility; we will tell you what documentation we can supply before an order ships.
Long-term care
Dust the frame, not the silk. Never spray cleaner onto glazing near an unsealed frame, and never press a cloth against the embroidered surface. If a panel ever needs re-framing or conservation, use a framer experienced with textiles. Our full article on framing and caring for silk embroidery covers this in detail.
Questions about a specific destination? Contact us before ordering and we will confirm packing, timing and documentation.