In a recent Just Art Pottery post, we discussed ways to securely store your art pottery collection. 
Soon after, we received feedback from a woman who, in many ways, is an expert’s expert. She knows too well the disappointment and really, the heartbreak, of losing things during a hurricane. She tells us she managed to save much of her prized art pottery collection, but did lose a few pieces during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. She also provided a unique perspective on safely protecting your investment – whether it’s your Rookwood art pottery or your grandmother’s china collection. And for those of us who live along the Gulf Coast, we spend six months of each year in hurricane season – protecting our investments is second nature. Keep reading for Martha’s tips – I too learned a few new tricks for keeping my own art pottery pieces safe.
One of those tips that Martha provided that I hadn’t done in the past was to fill the interior of your vases, jardinières, umbrella stands, etc. with eco-friendly peanuts before wrapping with bubble wrap. She also suggests using storage bags. The bigger you can get is better; perhaps gallon size? Martha recommends ZipLoc freezer grade bags. Use one bag for each art pottery piece. Don’t forget to squeeze out all of the air before sealing. There are a few good reasons for using storage bags. One, you can easily label them and two, you can reuse them season after seasons but as Martha points out, one of the biggest reasons to use these plastic zip bags is to prevent water damage. Some homes along the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts were completely underwater. In Pascagoula, MS, my hometown, the water lines in some homes were as high as where the walls met the ceilings. Water damage is always a potential with any kind of tropical system.
There also exists the potential of the water being polluted with various chemicals and oils that could potentially ruin your piece, even if it isn’t broken – better to play it safe.
It’s this last tip, courtesy of Martha, that really was an eye opener. She explains that she doesn’t use cardboard boxes to store her collections. Her reasons? The cardboard, if it gets wet, collapses. That defeats the purpose. Instead, she has invested in “Snap Boxes”. They are made of sturdy plastic, they interlock and stack and the best part is that they collapse when you’re not using them. This takes up a lot less room. The Snap Box has vents – which as she explains, “water in, water out”. This is a much better option!
As we gear up for the peak of hurricane season on September 10th, this is the ideal time to get organized for your prized Rookwood Pottery collection or your Teco Pottery vases.
Many thanks to Martha for her great ideas – and here’s to a continued 2010 hurricane season that’s not resulted in any landfall!
Have tips of your own and you'd like to share? We'd love to hear from you! Drop us a line and don't forget to sign up for the Just Art Pottery newsletter!
