I need to ship a family heirloom curio cabinet my wife inherited from Rockford, IL to Cave Creek, AZ. Rather than a 3 day road trip, what is the best company for shipping a wood and glass antique cross country? Local antique stores have been less than useful in answering this question.

I have to say in advance that this place is where I go to for unusual information I can't easily get anywhere else.

I ship a lot of stuff a lot of places. My running theory is if you're not confident enough in your packaging to feel ok with the item being thrown the full length of a 54' trailer, it best be handled in person. Wish I had a better answer for you. Hope someone else has something for you.

I would call a reputable company.

If you like, hit me by email in profile. I have a senior executive contact at the largest Atlas Van Lines agent in the country. They are experienced in specialty shipping, and would probably do a one unit ship, on a truck making that route. You may be able to arrange to pick it up a their local warehouse and save on the door to door delivery.

For the record, these guys also ship guns and safes. They aren't your usual mover.

What are the dimensions of this cabinet?

I called a fella in Peoria that drives a mini van down to Mesa twice a year.

If
He could get it in his mini van he would charge $375.00

From Peoria to mesa

Uship might be a good resource, just need to read the ratings the shipper has. For something like this, I wouldn't want it shipped in a large trailer. I'd look for a hotshot shipper to handle this, get a little bit more personalized transaction.

If I was still in the business, I'd try to work with you.

If it’s curved glass or original glass I would take the 3 day trip. It’s just not worth that breaking.
This is interesting because I was just discussing shipping Limoges china to a family member, and we ultimately agreed it’d be best traveled by the person who’s receiving it.

It does have the original curved glass, my estimate is that it is 60-100 years old, maybe older. I don’t even know what to insure it for, only that we only have until the middle of March to move it.

An antique dealer should be able to give you a written appraisal for insurance purposes. The value to your wife as an heirloom possibly exceeds its market value. Back in the 1960s my mother (God rest her soul) inherited what she called a “china cabinet” that sounds like what you’ve described. It was a fragile old thing, full of fragile old things. As a child, I was afraid to go near it. Maybe an online antique auction house like Bidsquare or Sotheby’s could offer a suggestion for a shipper. I’d probably end up having to go get it myself, if in your situation.