Decant & Reinstall at St Andrews' R&A Clubhouse
Handling and storing objects including paintings, sculptures, clocks, and antiques.
Constantine Scotland recently completed decanting, storing, and re-installing 190 objects, including priceless paintings, sculptures, clocks, and antiques, during the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse at St Andrews’ recent refurbishment. Read on to learn how we handled this project and protected the safety and security of the objects throughout.
Site Visit & Assessment
The project, as all major projects do, began with a site visit. This is a critical first step as it gives our expert technicians time to assess the various objects for removal, note down any potential vulnerabilities, and consider any access issues.
We created a plan to ensure the safety of the objects during the de-installation, packing, transportation, and storage processes. Because this project involved such a wide range of items requiring tailored handling techniques, we needed to confirm that each piece’s unique needs were considered.
This assessment laid the foundation for a seamless decant process, minimising risk and ensuring that the handling requirements of every item were properly planned for.
Decant & Transportation to Secure Storage
Once we had completed the site visit, our specialist art handlers arrived at the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse to begin the decant process. Over five days, they carefully de-installed each of the 190 objects, packing them on-site and using custom crating where necessary. We carefully installed scaffolding, allowing our technicians access to paintings in the hard-to-reach stairwells.
Following the de-installation, we transported the collection to our secure fine art storage facility in Coatbridge. The facilities’ climate-controlled storage environment provided the optimum conditions for the items whilst the Clubhouse was refurbished.
Re-installation After Refurbishment
After the Clubhouse renovations were complete, our team returned to the site to reverse the process. Over another five days, we safely transported the collection back to St Andrews, carefully unpacking and re-installing each item. As with the decant, we installed scaffolding in the stairwells to facilitate the re-hanging of paintings.
Working closely with the Royal & Ancient staff, our team ensured that every object was displayed according to their precise specifications. Throughout the process, we provided full project management, overseeing every aspect from transportation logistics to final installation, ensuring the collections’ seamless return.
About the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse
The clubhouse, as it stands today, began construction in 1853 and was completed in 1854. It was designed by George Rae, a Scottish architect known for his work in public buildings and residences. The structure was intended to be functional and grand, capturing the club’s prestigious status. The Victorian building features sandstone with ornate detailing and, with its scenic view of the Old Course, quickly became the symbolic “home of golf.”
Today, the clubhouse serves as the administrative centre of the R&A’s global golf governance, alongside its more traditional roles for club members. The building houses a treasure trove of golf memorabilia, including trophies, historic club records, and artwork dedicated to the sport.
Conclusion
Constantine Scotland decanted, stored, and reinstalled 190 historic objects at the Royal & Ancient Clubhouse at St Andrews. Our fine art handling expertise, museum-quality storage facility, and diligent project management ensured the safety and preservation of the collection throughout the 18-month refurbishment process.
This project highlights our commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for the transportation, storage, and installation of fine art and historic objects. Whether a single piece or an entire collection, we handle every project with the same dedication to excellence.
