Shipping a One-of-One Across the World
A piece that took months to make has to survive days in transit. Here is how it travels from Antigua to your door.
Every piece we ship is irreplaceable. That changes how you wrap a box.
Summary
- Pieces ship worldwide with DHL and are fully insured on receipt.
- Each piece travels wrapped in a handwoven cloth bag and protective packaging.
- Because each piece is one of one, we treat transit with extra care.
Key takeaways
- Insurance and careful packing protect an object that cannot be replaced.
- Worldwide shipping lets collectors anywhere own a piece.
- The unboxing is designed to feel like an arrival, not a delivery.
It is one thing to make a beautiful object in Guatemala. It is another to get it safely to a table in another country.
Why shipping is serious for us
If you sell a mass-produced item and it arrives damaged, you send another. If we ship a one-of-one and it is damaged, there is no other. The root it came from exists only once. That fact shapes how we pack.
How it travels
Every piece is shipped worldwide with DHL. DHL's international network reaches most countries, and its tracking lets you follow the piece along the way. Each shipment is fully insured on receipt, so that if something does go wrong, you are covered.
Inside the box
The piece does not go straight into a carton. It is first wrapped in a handwoven cloth bag, made in Guatemala in the style of traditional ropa típica. The cloth is soft, and it protects the surface from scratches. We tell that story in The Handwoven Bag: Where the Ropa Típica Comes In.
The bagged piece is then secured inside protective outer packaging, cushioned so that it cannot shift. Heavy objects need special attention, because it is the weight in motion that causes damage.
What to do on arrival
When your piece arrives, check the outer carton first. If there is visible damage, photograph it before opening. Then unpack the piece slowly, and examine it for any signs of harm. If you find any, contact us promptly, and we will take care of the claim.
Most arrive without incident, and the first moment of unwrapping is often a memorable one.
Customs and duties
International shipments can be subject to import taxes and duties in the destination country. These vary by place, and the rules change, so we cannot give a single answer. If you have questions before you order, ask us, and we will help you understand what to expect.
The unwrapping
I like to imagine the moment when a collector lifts the cloth and sees the piece for the first time. We have spent months on it, and now it belongs to someone else. That handoff matters to us. It is why we take care at the very end of a long process.
Common questions
Do you ship internationally?
Yes. Pieces ship worldwide with DHL, fully insured on receipt.
What if my piece arrives damaged?
Photograph the packaging and the piece and contact us right away. Because pieces are insured, we can help resolve it.
Keep reading
Every piece is one of one.
Browse the specimen archive and acquire the piece that speaks to you. Each is catalogued once and sold once.