We have found UPS to be marvelous at moving “unusual” shapes and sizes. My mother, an artist, had many things that needed to be shipped to the 4 kids. No problems.

Mom’s art was an intensely (personal, important, a part of our youth, a integral part of our growing up, etc., ) part of who we are today. Nothing of hers will ever hang in a museum, but hangs/sits/exists in places of honor in all of our homes.

If your wife respects her work, and a museum agrees, pay up for professionals.

I would NEVER be even remotely interested in having AA’s disinterested luggage loader goons within a Parsec of anything remotely important to me.

YMMV