How framed art travels, and what to do if it arrives broken

Posted by

August 16, 2026

On June 20, 2026

Glass and framed pieces are the most fragile things we send, and the packaging exists to solve a specific problem: not a drop, but hours of small vibration in a vehicle. Corner protectors and a rigid carton keep the frame from moving, which is what prevents damage.

They also make the difference between a return that is possible and one that is not, which is the practical reason we ask you to keep them.

Photograph before you unpack further

If a carton arrives crushed, dented or wet, take photographs of it as it is before opening any further. Once the packaging is off, there is no way to demonstrate that the damage happened in transit rather than afterwards.

Photograph the item too, in the packaging where possible. Two or three pictures is enough and it makes the whole process immediate rather than a discussion.

Report within forty-eight hours

Email us within forty-eight hours of delivery with the photographs and the order number. Transit damage is replaced or refunded and we handle the carrier side; that is not something we ask a customer to do.

The forty-eight hours is not bureaucratic strictness. Carrier claims have their own time limits, and after those close the claim is simply not available to us.

Do not post glass back

For a broken glass item we do not ask for a return. Broken glass in the post is a hazard to whoever handles the parcel, and photographs are sufficient evidence.

Wrap the pieces and dispose of them safely at your end. This applies to framed glass, glass vases and glass candle holders alike.

Keep the corner protectors until you are sure

A framed piece returned without its corner protectors and rigid carton will almost certainly arrive back damaged, and a piece damaged on a return journey cannot be refunded.

So keep the packaging until you have hung the piece and decided you are keeping it. It takes up a little space for a few days and it preserves the whole return option.

What is not transit damage

Small variations in wood grain, in a hand-finished surface, or in the exact shade between two pieces of the same line are characteristics rather than faults. Hand-finished work varies by definition.

Colour on a screen is also not a promise. Monitors differ substantially, and a difference in shade between the photograph and the piece is the reason the return window exists rather than a defect.

Storing pieces you are not hanging yet

Framed work should be stored upright on edge, not flat and never stacked face to face without something between them. Flat storage puts the whole weight of the frame on the glass.

Somewhere dry matters as much. A framed print stored against an exterior wall or in a basement will cockle within a season, and that is not reversible.

Hanging hardware is not included by default

Framed pieces arrive with a fixing on the back – usually a sawtooth hanger or a wire – but not with the wall fixing itself, because the right one depends entirely on the wall. That is a genuine gap and worth planning for rather than discovering.

Weigh the piece, then choose an anchor rated well above it. In plasterboard a toggle is the reliable answer; into masonry, a plug. A picture hook rated for two pounds under a framed glass piece is the commonest cause of a second breakage.

From our shelves

Glass and ceramic pieces, which travel under the same packing rules. Everything below is in stock as this piece is published, and the prices shown are read live from the catalogue rather than typed into the article, so they cannot drift out of date. Across the whole group prices currently run from $8.99 to $36.99, and the listing pages carry the full specification for each one.

Chuangdi Light Blue Coastal Glass Vase Set with Boho Rope – 2 Pack — $36.99
Enhance your home with this charming Chuangdi coastal glass vase set. Featuring a light blue hue and bohemian rope accents, these reusable decorative bottles bring a serene, beach-inspired touch to any room.
CUCUMI Ceramic Vases Set of 3, Rustic Morandi Coastal Farmhouse Decor — $24.99
Enhance your home with this exquisite CUCUMI set of three ceramic vases. Featuring a distressed, crackled rustic design in a beautiful morandi color palette, these durable vases offer timeless elegance for any modern farmhouse, rustic, or coastal-themed space.
Muktoujaumai Blue Starfish Burlap Table Runner – 13×72 Inches — $8.99
Bring the refreshing feel of the ocean to your dining space with this charming Muktoujaumai blue starfish table runner. Its vibrant design and durable burlap material make it a perfect accent for any summer gathering or beach-themed decor.
Maitys 3-Piece Ocean Theme Wooden Tabletop Signs for Summer Decor — $8.99
Bring the refreshing spirit of the seaside into your home with this charming 3-piece set of Maitys wooden ocean-themed decorations. Featuring starfish, turtle, and shell designs in blue, these signs create a delightful coastal ambiance for any room.

These are 4 of the items in Vases and Table Decor; the category page lists the rest with current stock and pricing.

Ordering, delivery and returns

Every order pays $5.99 for delivery until the total passes $49. Orders are packed in one to three business days and travel for five to ten, so plan on six to thirteen business days between placing an order and opening the box. Everything ships from New York, NY, to United States addresses.

If something is not right, the return window is 30 days from delivery for unused goods in their original packaging. The Shipping Policy and the Refund and Returns Policy carry the detail, and the FAQ answers the questions that come up most often.