Choosing a fine art carrier is unlike booking any other kind of freight. The crate matters. The climate matters. The handler's training matters. And the carrier you choose shapes your entire logistics workflow — from how you get a quote to how you track a shipment to how you file a claim.
Most galleries retain two or three carriers. Here is a detailed comparison of the three most commonly used by North American and European galleries in 2026.
At a glance
| Convelio | Crozier | Dietl | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2017 | 1873 | 1915 |
| Parent | Independent (Series C) | Iron Mountain (NYSE: IRM) | Independent |
| Headquarters | Paris | New York / London | New York |
| Best for | Fair season, European routes, instant quotes | Museum handling, long-term storage | US domestic, white-glove install |
| Technology | Public REST API, online quoting portal, AI inventory management | Quote via email/phone | Online quoting portal |
| Storage | Limited to Convelio warehouses | 1.8M sq ft across 12 markets | NYC, LA, Miami |
| Markets | 92 countries | 12 cities (US, UK, EU) | US domestic + select international |
| Insurance | Included in quote | Arranged separately | Included in quote |
Convelio
Convelio is the technology play. Founded in 2017, it has shipped $1.84 billion in art across 92 countries and raised Series C funding. Its differentiator is speed: instant online quotes, a public REST API, and an AI-powered inventory management system launched in early 2025.
Strengths: If you are doing the European fair circuit — Frieze London, Art Basel, TEFAF Maastricht — Convelio's multi-stop routing and instant quoting save hours per shipment. Their IMS lets you manage inventory and book shipments from the same interface.
Limitations: The IMS ties you to Convelio's ecosystem. If you also store with Crozier or use Dietl for domestic US moves, Convelio's software cannot see those shipments. You are back to managing multiple systems.
Best for: Galleries with a heavy European fair calendar who are comfortable with Convelio as their primary carrier.
Crozier Fine Arts
Crozier is the institutional standard. Founded in 1873 and now owned by Iron Mountain (a $30B NYSE-listed company), Crozier operates 1.8 million square feet of climate-controlled storage across 12 markets. Their brand says "museum" — and their pricing reflects it.
Strengths: Unmatched storage infrastructure. Museum-caliber handling. The institutional credibility that matters when you are shipping a $5M painting to a collector who expects a Crozier truck, not an unmarked van.
Limitations: No online quoting. No API. Getting a quote means emailing or calling. Their website's "Get a Quote" button leads to a contact form. This is not a technology company — it is a 150-year-old logistics firm with a website.
Best for: Galleries and dealers shipping high-value single pieces, institutions that need long-term storage, and anyone for whom the carrier's name on the crate matters.
Dietl
Dietl is the US domestic workhorse. Founded in 1915 and based in New York, it handles white-glove installation, domestic shipping, and select international routes. Many New York galleries use Dietl for local moves (gallery to collector, gallery to storage) and Convelio or Crozier for international.
Strengths: Unmatched white-glove installation service in the US. Strong NYC presence. Reliable domestic routing. Online quoting portal.
Limitations: Limited international network compared to Convelio. Smaller storage footprint than Crozier. The online portal is functional but not as polished as Convelio's.
Best for: US galleries that do mostly domestic moves, or as a complement to Convelio/Crozier for local and domestic shipping.
Other carriers worth knowing
Cadogan Tate — international specialist, strong in high-value single pieces, storage in London, NYC, LA, and Miami. Like Crozier, quotes via email.
Atelier 4 — US East Coast, museum-standard crating and transport. Often used by museums for loan exhibitions.
Gander & White — UK and European specialist, strong private client practice, storage in London and Paris.
How to choose
Most galleries end up with a two- or three-carrier strategy:
- European fair routes: Convelio (instant quotes, multi-stop routing)
- Domestic US moves: Dietl (white-glove, reliable, online portal)
- High-value single pieces, storage: Crozier (museum standard, institutional trust)
The trade-off is coordination. Each carrier has its own portal (or none), its own tracking format, and its own communication channel. The registrar becomes the integration layer — forwarding emails, updating spreadsheets, answering "where is it?" from memory.
The Arpezio approach: We do not replace your carriers. We sit above them as the single dashboard — Convelio, Crozier, and Dietl, in one view. Request early access.