Wednesday, June 06, 2012

Someone asked me to query subscribers to the Gazette about experiences in packing and shipping glass. He reminded me of an issue I had and asked me to retell it; as painful as that is to recall it.

But first, let me express a gripe I have about a large number of packages I receive. It seems that after they put them in bubble wrap or whatever, the sender then typically uses most of a roll of scotch tape to wrap around the wrapping material. I’m not sure what the benefit of so much tape is. What I do know is the highest risk of damage to the piece comes from taking a scissors and trying to cut the layered scotch tape without somehow damaging the delicate piece of glass. I might add the wrapping technique can apply to a heavy vase, or a delicate perfume dauber.

Anyhow, here’s my story of woe. I bought a cintra vase with two ring handles. The color combination was not typical and I was thrilled with my purchase. Actually, a bargain and one of the few I seem to have ever gotten. The seller assured me he was quite expert at packing and would wrap this carefully. And careful it was. He took the ring handles and separately wrapped them in bubble wrap so they wouldn’t bounce against the base of the piece.. Then he tightly wrapped the bubble wrap in scotch tape. Next he double boxed and shipped off next day air. When the package arrived, in completed undamaged fashion, I began to giddily unpack. Low and behold, the packing of the ring handle had left a crushed ring handle. I guess when bubble wrap goes up in the sky on an airplane that it expands. Voila, expands and crushes the delicate ring handle. A one ring handled vase is without value. Perhaps an irreplaceable piece. Even if replaceable, likely much more costly. The only good news from this event is that the US Post Office promptly paid on the insurance for my purchase price.

So, that’s my story. I hope this will cause others to express their experiences or recommendations on wrapping glass.

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2012 Carder Steuben Club annual Symposium will be held at The Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY from September 20-22, 2012.

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