Art transport through the ages: How Marie Antoinette's legacy finds its way into the digital age

Art transport has changed dramatically over time. From Marie Antoinette's legacy to the digital age, the methods and technologies for transporting and storing artworks have also evolved.

The prestigious art shipping company Chenue has a long history of 260 years, which began with the production of transport crates for Marie Antoinette, the Queen of France.

Today, Chenue is a leading provider in the field of art transport and has developed an innovative solution with "Moviiu" to bring the transport of artworks into the digital age.

In 1760, André Chenue founded his company, where he was responsible for handling Marie Antoinette's laundry at the French court as a so-called "laytier ." Initially, he took care of the careful packaging of the queen's and her children's underwear.

Later, Chenue was commissioned to produce “Layettes” – boxes, containers and chests – which were necessary to safely store and protect Marie Antoinette’s clothing and personal belongings during transport.

At that time, travel trunks were handled roughly on carriages, so valuable clothing had to be meticulously packed to arrive undamaged. Custom-made chests and trunks allowed the Queen's belongings to be transported – as was customary at the time – from castle to castle without major damage.

Challenges to art transport are increasing in the digital age

Today, the demands of transporting art and valuable objects are just as challenging as in the past. Where once bumpy country roads existed, today there are the efficient packing lines and conveyor belts of large shipping companies.

The art market has long since become globalized; thanks to the internet and e-commerce, collectors from all over the world can participate in online auctions or purchase artworks via online platforms.

In addition, social media plays a crucial role in the marketing of artists and their works , as they can present themselves on platforms like Instagram and thereby communicate with international buyers.

Due to the increasing global art trade, artworks are increasingly having to travel great distances, while at the same time customer expectations regarding fast and cost-effective delivery are also rising – similar to what is common in conventional online retail.

Combining traditional craftsmanship with digital solutions

As one of the first companies in the art shipping industry, the Chenue Group has taken advantage of digital technology for the transport of artworks.

In collaboration with traditional crate makers, whose task it is to carefully pack the often highly sensitive artworks, Chenue has Moviiu an intelligent platform . This offers the global art dealer a fast and secure solution for shipping artworks.

Using an online tool based on artificial intelligence , art buyers can enter information about delivery details such as pickup address, delivery address and size of the artwork.

Within a few seconds, the artificial intelligence then determines the transport price, the shipping conditions and the optimal packaging size – although these are still manufactured by specialized box makers.

After completing the order process, the customer receives the customized packaging material at their collection address. The customer places their artwork in this box and then arranges for shipping via the website.

Similar to a normal parcel delivery service, the customer receives regular updates on every step of the transport until delivery to the collector and can track the status of their artwork in real time at any time – particularly interesting for high-value goods.

Easier access to the European market

Moviiu makes the European art market even more accessible to foreign collectors . Before auctions , potential buyers can calculate transport costs through the system, which is cheaper than traditional art shipping companies.

Customs clearance is handled automatically by Moviiu in both export and import countries. For three years, Moviiu has offered intelligent shipping solutions for outbound shipments from Switzerland and France.

With the construction of new packaging and logistics centers in Berlin and Düsseldorf, art lovers have been able to buy artworks in Germany and ship them worldwide since November of this year.

Over 1,000 works of art have already been shipped using this innovative method – with further growth in the digital art trade, there could be many more in the future.

Joachim Rodriguez y Romero

Owner and Managing Director of Kunstplaza . Publicist, editor, and passionate blogger in the fields of art, design, and creativity since 2011. Graduated with a degree in web design from university (2008). Further developed creative techniques through courses in freehand drawing, expressive painting, and theatre/acting. Profound knowledge of the art market gained through years of journalistic research and numerous collaborations with key players and institutions in the arts and culture sector.

www.kunstplaza.de