Tips and Tricks on Packing Fragile Glass Items for Shipment!
As a butter dish collector, I have received a number of butter dishes
sent through the mail. A number of times the butter dishes have arrived
broken because the seller did not know how to pack glass.
Mailing a butter dish presents problems because a butter dish consists
of two pieces. If these pieces work their way out of their wrapping they
can crash into one another and break.
Many people think that breakage occurs due to external concussion, when
in fact most glass breakage occurs from internal collision. This is why
many people have the misconception that they know how to pack glass.
They have packed and sent single pieces and have never known breakage.
After receiving a broken butter dish followed by a rash of poorly packed
butter dishes, I received a Chrysanthemum Sprig packed by Richard
Sciarra, (ebay id: r-mantiques). It was evident when the box arrived that
it had been packed properly, so pictures were taken as the package was
unwrapped with the hope of helping others.
There was Priority tape and the word Fragile all over the box--even
though having Fragile on the box doesn’t seem to mean much in
The first thing to notice in Pic #3 above, is that both pieces appear
to be wrapped separately and then taped together. This assures that any
movement within the box will result in both pieces moving as one.
(Obviously there would be no salvage of bubble wrap on this one. This would be
a difficult unwrap. Scissors would be needed!)
After cutting the two pieces apart, work began by cutting away the tape
from the lid.
The above illustration is provided as an example of proper packing
which will remain intact under very adverse conditions. Many would
consider it to be on the extreme end of packing and choose to eliminate
some of the steps. Undoubtedly the butter dish would have arrived
safely had just the inner box been mailed!
The most important features to remember:
1. Stuff large open areas – it is especially important to stuff
the inside of cracker jars and butter dishes!
2. Tape the bubble wrap or other cushioning material around the item--items wiggle out of bubble wrap during shipping if
they are not taped. Not taping the bubble wrap allows them to crash into
one another and break. Use plenty of tape. You don’t care whether or
not the buyer can reuse the bubble wrap.
3. Tape the individual items together--taping the
items together prevents them from crashing into one another.
4. Stuff the box--some settling will naturally occur,
so pack the box so tightly you can barely close it. The post office is
often blamed when a box arrives crushed. It is very hard to crush a box
that is stuffed.
5. The box can be stuffed with Styrofoam, newspaper,
shredded paper, foam, etc. Mixing certain mediums seems to produce
problems as one will work in under the other causing a settling
effect. (Plastic is is notourius for doing this!) When using newspaper,
double the amount you think is sufficient. (However, remember the
admonition about using newsprint!)
6. Instead of taping pieces together, some sellers
section off a box, so the lid is on one side and the bottom is on the
other. This works provided the partition cannot move!
7. Never pack glass in a cookie tin. Priority
mail boxes are free and can be ordered from the post office. Priority
tape is also free. The Post Office will also furnish you mailing
labels with your return address printed on them. You can also order
mailing lables with "Priority Mail" printed on them for
non-Priority Mail boxes.
8. Most breakage occurs because the sender packed the item wrong! The
post office insurance does not cover poor packing, (though they have been known to pay)! So be sure to
pack glass correctly. Filing claims is a pain and Early American Pattern Glass
cannot be replaced!