A folding screen is a group of three or more vertical panels joined together by hinges. It is popular for its practical uses, such as dividing a room or providing privacy, as well as its decorative purposes. A folding screen, which can be made from a variety of materials, stands on its own and is retractable to fit in any size space.
The use of folding screens originated in China during the Han Dynasty and eventually spread to Europe and other parts of the world. Usually decorated with exquisite art, antique screens are most sought after by collectors. Famous fashion designer Coco Chanel was known for her penchant for Chinese folding screens. She is believed to have owned a total of 32 folding screens.
Today, the folding screen is as ubiquitous as any other home furniture, serving both as a portable room partition and as artwork to accessorize any type of interiors. Contemporary folding screens are made from light materials making them easier to handle and move around. When shipping a folding screen, it should be properly packed to prevent any damage. Here are some tips on how to properly pack and ship a folding screen.
Fold the screen until it is flattened into a single panel. Wrap it in several layers of shrink wrap to prevent it from “opening” up. Then, generously wrap the entire screen with bubble wrap, making sure that edges and corners are given extra padding as these parts are the most prone to damages from bumps and falls.
Place the wrapped folding screen in a cardboard shipping box that is big enough to accommodate the screen and provide some extra space for packing materials. If there is no box big enough for the screen, you can make one by fusing together two smaller boxes. Here’s how to make a larger box from two small boxes.
Pack the screen in the box with lots of packaging materials, such as packing peanuts and bubble wrap, all around it. The box should be well-packed so that the screen will have no space to move around. Close the box and seal with packing tape. To prevent the package from bursting open while in transit, reinforce the box’s seams and openings with packaging tape.
Address and label the box and take to a reputable shipping company. Purchase extra insurance to protect you in case the screen gets lost or damaged during transit.