Cooke’s Crating
Cooke's Crating is a Los Angeles-based, family-owned fine art logistics company founded in 1975 that provides packing, crating, climate-controlled shipping, installation, and storage to museums, galleries, and private collectors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1975
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Cooke’s Crating does
Cooke's Crating and Fine Arts Transportation Inc. is a Los Angeles-based, family-owned provider of specialized fine art logistics services, founded in 1975 by Bryan Cooke. The company serves museums, galleries, cultural institutions, and private collectors with packing, custom crating, climate-controlled transportation, rigging and installation, and long-term storage. Its operating base is 100,000 sq ft of secured warehouse in Los Angeles (65,000 sq ft climate-controlled plus 35,000 sq ft secure non-climate), supported by two fully equipped crating shops, a climatized clean room, climate-controlled air-ride trucks, and a scheduled LA-to-San Francisco Art Shuttle running 9-12 times per year. The technology stack is conventional and operational: Teletrac GPS tracking, barcode-labeled inventory, and cloud-backed inventory management systems.
The business operates on a project-based, quote-priced model. Revenue is generated through one-time and project engagements (art handling, transportation, rigging, installation) and recurring fine art storage fees charged by space and duration, with after-hours and weekend services available on request. The go-to-market is direct sales to enterprise clients, supported by word-of-mouth referrals, industry recognition (Art News 2023 75 Top Art World Professionals), and a 38-year membership in ICEFAT, which provides access to 80 art handling companies in 34 countries for international exhibition logistics. Marquee clients include the J. Paul Getty Museum, MOCA, the Hammer Museum at UCLA, the Huntington, the Palm Springs Art Museum, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Skirball Cultural Center, the Whitney Museum, and the Japanese American National Museum. The company claims a 15+ year claim-free insurance record and has handled works valued up to $130 million, including Gustav Klimt's Lady in Gold.
Cooke’s Crating firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cooke’s Crating
- Legal name
- Cooke's Crating and Fine Arts Transportation Inc.
- Website
- https://cookescrating.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1975
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Cooke's Crating is a Los Angeles-based, family-owned fine art logistics company founded in 1975 that provides packing, crating, climate-controlled shipping, installation, and storage to museums, galleries, and private collectors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cooke’s Crating industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fine Art Logistics and Handling Services
- NAICS
- Packing and Crating (488991)
- akta.pro industry
- Fine Art Packing & CratingHome & Personal Services/Moving, Storage & Relocation Services/Packing, Unpacking & Crating ServicesFine Art Handling & TransportHome & Personal Services/Moving, Storage & Relocation Services/Specialty Item Moving (Pianos, Antiques, Fine Art, Safes)International Packing, Export Crating & ContainerizationHome & Personal Services/Moving, Storage & Relocation Services/International Moving & Relocation ServicesPortable Storage Container Specialty & High-Value Item Moves (Crating/Climate-Control Options)Home & Personal Services/Moving, Storage & Relocation Services/Portable Storage Container Rental & MovingCustom Crating & Export-Grade PackagingHome & Personal Services/Moving, Storage & Relocation Services/Packing, Unpacking & Crating ServicesFine Art & Exhibition Cargo ForwardingTransportation & Logistics/Freight Forwarding & Customs Brokerage/Specialized Cargo Forwarding (Perishables/Pharma, Dangerous Goods, Live Animals)
Keywords
Where Cooke’s Crating is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Cooke’s Crating business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Art Handling and Transportation Services: One-time and project-based revenue from fine art packing, crating, shipping, and transportation services. Includes art installation and museum services.
- Fine Art Storage Services: Recurring storage revenue from climate-controlled and secure non-climate art storage facilities. Charged based on space and duration of storage.
- Art Shuttle Services: Scheduled art shuttle service between LA and SF, 9-12 runs yearly in climate-controlled trucks.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom quote-based pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Cooke’s Crating product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cooke's Crating and Fine Arts Transportation Inc. provides specialized art handling services including custom museum-quality packing and crating, domestic and international art shipping, fine art installation, and climate-controlled art storage. The company serves museums, galleries, auction houses, interior designers, and private collectors with white-glove handling of paintings, sculptures, antiques, and fragile artifacts. Founded in 1975 and family-owned, the firm operates from Los Angeles with a dedicated shuttle route to San Francisco.
Product overview
Cooke's Crating and Fine Arts Transportation is a single unified service offering centered around fine art handling, transportation, installation, and storage. The portfolio consists of eight distinct service offerings: Art Packing & Crating (custom crating and packing services), Art Shipping (domestic and international shipping), Art Shuttle (LA to SF climate-controlled transport), Fine Art Installation (installation and rigging services), Fine Art Storage (climate-controlled and secure storage), Museum Services (museum-specific handling), Private Art Collections (collector-focused services), and Project Spotlight (project portfolio showcase). These services work together as an integrated fine art logistics solution, with clients able to engage individual services or comprehensive art handling from packing through storage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Art Packing & Crating Custom museum-quality packing and crating of paintings, sculptures, antiques, and fragile artifacts using ISPM-15 heat-treated lumber suitable for domestic and international shipment. Designed for museums, galleries, auction houses, interior designers, and private collectors.
- Art Shipping Specialized domestic and international shipping of fine art and antiques using air-ride equipped, climate-controlled transport vehicles with chain-of-custody handling. Serves institutional and private clients requiring secure transit of high-value objects.
- Art Shuttle (Los Angeles to San Francisco) Scheduled shuttle service transporting art between Los Angeles and San Francisco, providing regular, reliable transport along the California corridor for museums, galleries, auction houses, and collectors.
- Fine Art Installation Professional on-site installation of artwork and artifacts in museums, galleries, private residences, and commercial spaces. Includes rigging and placement of paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects.
- Fine Art Storage Climate-controlled storage of fine art and antiques for museums, galleries, auction houses, and private collectors. Provides a secure environment for short- and long-term holdings.
- Museum Services Dedicated end-to-end art handling services tailored for museum clients, encompassing custom packing, crating, shipping, installation, and storage of museum collections and traveling exhibitions.
- Private Collection Services White-glove packing, transport, installation, and storage services for private collectors and individuals, including support for estate relocations, residential moves, and acquisition logistics.
Quantifiable outcome
- Exemplary safety record with no insurance claim in over 15 years
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Cooke’s Crating
Customer profileNamed customers16 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Cooke’s Crating technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature3 records
Cooke’s Crating partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- ICEFAT (International Convention of Exhibition and Fine Art Transporters)coreCooke's Crating has been a 38-year member of ICEFAT, a trade organization representing 80 of the world's best art services companies. Bryan Cooke served for 9 years as an ICEFAT Steering Committee member and helped transform ICEFAT into a trade organization. He also wrote the Code of Ethics Rules for the group's Bylaws. ICEFAT membership provides customers access to highly skilled art handling services in 34 countries worldwide.
- ARCS (Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists)flagshipBryan Cooke helped found ARCS in 2011, named the organization, developed the ARCS business and organizational plan, provided startup funding, and raised over $300,000 to finance the organization. He served on the ARCS Advisory Board.
- PACCIN (Packing and Crating Information Network)flagshipBryan Cooke was a founding member of PACCIN and served on its Board for 20 years. He served on the Advisory Board assisting PACCIN gain independence from AAM.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Cooke’s Crating competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Masterpiece International: Specialty fine art shipping and logistics company providing domestic and international art transportation, exhibition logistics, and customs coordination for museums, galleries, and collectors.
- Fine Art Shippers: New York-based art logistics company offering packing, crating, shipping, and installation of fine art. Competes directly with Cooke's Crating for gallery and collector business along the East Coast and nationally.
- US Art Company: Specialty art transportation, rigging, installation, and storage provider with extensive US presence serving museums, galleries, and corporate collections. Comparable operating model and customer base.
- Cadogan Tate Fine Art Logistics: UK-founded but US-operating fine art logistics specialist offering packing, crating, shipping, installation, and storage for galleries, museums, and collectors. Closely comparable end-to-end fine art handling model and customer base.
- Plycon Transportation Group: US-based fine art, antique, and specialty freight mover offering nationwide art shipping, packing, and crating services. Comparable service portfolio and target customers to Cooke's Crating.
- Dietl International Art Logistics: Long-established fine art logistics specialist providing packing, crating, transportation, and storage for museums and collectors. Similar heritage-positioning competitor to Cooke's Crating.
- Crown Fine Art: Specialized fine art logistics arm of Crown Worldwide Group, providing art moving, storage, and installation services worldwide. Directly competes with Cooke's Crating for museum and gallery transportation contracts.
- Cadell Art Transport: Fine art transportation and installation specialist serving galleries, museums, and collectors across the US. Direct competitor in the same art handling niche.
Emerging players
- Magnus Art Services: Specialized fine art handler and installer with growing presence on the US West Coast and East Coast, providing art installation, rigging, and project management services for museums and galleries.
Broad incumbents
- Heritage Auctions / Artex Fine Art Services: Fine art handling division offering packing, crating, shipping, and storage services as part of a broader auction and art services conglomerate. Broader incumbent offering overlapping services, including international art logistics and collection management.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cooke’s Crating social profiles
Digital presenceCooke’s Crating financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cooke’s Crating leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cooke’s Crating funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cooke’s Crating M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Cooke’s Crating
What does Cooke’s Crating do?
Cooke's Crating and Fine Arts Transportation Inc. provides specialized art handling services including custom museum-quality packing and crating, domestic and international art shipping, fine art installation, and climate-controlled art storage. The company serves museums, galleries, auction houses, interior designers, and private collectors with white-glove handling of paintings, sculptures, antiques, and fragile artifacts. Founded in 1975 and family-owned, the firm operates from Los Angeles with a dedicated shuttle route to San Francisco.
Is Cooke’s Crating a public or private company?
Cooke’s Crating is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Cooke’s Crating founded?
Cooke’s Crating was founded in 1975. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Cooke’s Crating based?
Cooke’s Crating is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Cooke’s Crating make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Art Handling and Transportation Services are the primary driver. The others are fine Art Storage Services and art Shuttle Services.
Who are Cooke’s Crating's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Masterpiece International, Fine Art Shippers, US Art Company, Cadogan Tate Fine Art Logistics, Plycon Transportation Group, Dietl International Art Logistics, Crown Fine Art and Cadell Art Transport. Magnus Art Services is listed as an emerging player. Heritage Auctions / Artex Fine Art Services is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cooke’s Crating have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cooke’s Crating.
What industry is Cooke’s Crating in?
Cooke’s Crating's product category is Fine Art Logistics and Handling Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSAKADAE, Fine Art Packing & Crating, with a secondary code of HSAKAEAB, Fine Art Handling & Transport. Its NAICS code is 488991.