An exhibition piece is a piece of furniture that has been displayed in a studio or showroom and is subsequently sold as a one-off. It is not used in the sense of years of use, but rather displayed: assembled, viewed, touched. With outdoor furniture, this difference is greater than one might think.

Anyone who wants to furnish a terrace in spring knows the problem: The delivery time for a piece of furniture made in Italy or Belgium is three to six weeks, and significantly longer for special editions. If you order in April, you will be sitting at the end of May. An exhibition piece is already available – and in exactly the version you can see before you decide.

What distinguishes an exhibition piece from new merchandise

The main difference is the time it has spent on display. A piece of furniture that has been in the studio for a season has been assembled, moved around, and sat on by visitors. What it has not experienced is life outdoors: no rain, no frost, no UV radiation for months. For furniture that has been kept exclusively in an enclosed studio, its physical condition is therefore practically identical to that of new merchandise.

This is no different with indoor furniture. However, with outdoor furniture, there is one additional point that is often overlooked: This furniture is designed for conditions that never occur in a studio. A teak frame designed for North German winters will not be damaged indoors. A powder-coated aluminum frame that must withstand salt air and chlorinated water will not change under artificial light. The reserve built into the material is never called upon in the studio.

What a season in the studio does to the materials

It is worth looking at this by material. Our material overview describes the properties in detail; these are the points that are particularly relevant for exhibition pieces.

Teak shows the most visible changes. When freshly delivered, it has a warm, honey-colored tone that weathers to a silvery gray under UV exposure. Indoors, this happens more slowly and evenly. A teak piece from the studio therefore shows at best the beginning of this development – and this is intended anyway, as many buyers appreciate the gray patina more than the new condition.

Aluminum does not change. Powder-coated frames are dimensionally stable and corrosion-resistant; time spent indoors leaves no traces that would still be visible after cleaning. The same applies to stainless steel.

Acrylic fabric, such as that used for cushion covers and parasols, is solution-dyed: The color is in the fiber, not on it. Fading is caused by UV radiation over long periods outdoors. In the studio, a light cover stays light – the real question with light cushions is not fading, but soiling, and that is immediately visible.

Rotomolded polyethylene, the material of many planters and design lights, is dyed through and made in one piece. There are no seams that could open, no coating that could flake off. Scratches would be the only thing that would stand out.

What to look for when buying

A good supplier will answer the following questions automatically. If they do not, you should ask them.

How long has the furniture been on display, and where? One year indoors is a different statement than one season outdoors in front of the store. Both can be fine, but it should be stated.

Are there visible traces, and what are they? For a piece of furniture that has been displayed, minor signs of use are normal. The important thing is that they are described specifically – a mark on a table edge is something different than a stain on a light cushion.

Is the version complete? Especially with modular systems and parasols, parts are included in the offer that you have to think about: cushion covers, parasol stands, protective covers, base plates. What is included should be stated on the product page.

Can it be expanded later? With a lounge system, this is the most important question of all. If the modules and cover fabric are still in the manufacturer's program, a seating area can grow. If the series has been discontinued, you are stuck with the stock.

How is it delivered? Large pieces are freight goods. For a piece of furniture that is already available, self-collection is often the fastest and safest option.

The advantage that cannot be ordered

Two things you get with the exhibition piece that you cannot have with a new order.

The first is time. A piece of furniture that is in the studio can be on the terrace in the same week. For anyone who wants to have an outdoor area finished in June, this is not a minor point, but the difference between this season and the next.

The second is visual inspection. With outdoor furniture, the material effect in the light decides, and that cannot be judged on a screen. A pearl white looks different next to natural stone than next to a wooden deck. A matte cement gray absorbs ambient light, a glossy one reflects it. Anyone who has seen the piece before buying is not buying on trust, but on the basis of evidence.

In addition, studios show versions that are rarely ordered from the catalog – unusual colors, elaborate configurations, series at the end of their life cycle. Anyone looking for a seating area like the Davos Lounge Group by Unopiù will find it completely assembled as an exhibition piece – with a module combination that they might not have put together themselves.

For which outdoor spaces individual pieces are particularly suitable

There are situations in which an exhibition piece is not just an alternative, but the better solution.

Terraces with a clear edge. A single, well-proportioned piece of furniture tends to carry an outdoor space more than a complete set. An L-shaped lounge group, a large planter with shaped greenery, a parasol with a side arm – such pieces set the geometry, everything else falls into place. Anyone who only needs one element does not need a series.

Roof terraces and balconies. Here every centimeter counts, and the decision is made by the dimensions, not the catalog. A piece that you can measure out in the studio and have in your hand prevents the wrong order, which is particularly expensive on limited space.

Hotels and restaurants. If a terrace has to open for the season, availability is the main criterion. Exhibition pieces fill short-term gaps – an additional parasol, a lounger by the pool, bar stools for the outdoor counter. For larger quantities, new merchandise remains the way, but individual items can be closed so quickly.

Projects in stages. Landscape architects and planners rarely work in one go. An exhibition piece is useful there where one item must be in place immediately, while the rest is still being coordinated – such as lights or planters that make the design readable before the furnishing comes.

Where the line is drawn

There are reasons to decide against an exhibition piece, and they should be stated openly.

An exhibition piece is an individual piece. It cannot be reordered, ordered in a different color, or expanded to six chairs if only four are available. Anyone who furnishes a terrace in several stages and values a completely consistent look is better advised with new merchandise – or must be sure that the series is still in production at the manufacturer.

And: Anyone who expects a flawless piece of furniture should ask instead of assuming. A garden chair from the exhibition is a different promise than the same chair from ongoing production. Usually, the difference is small. But it is there, and a reputable supplier will tell you how large it is.

The studio in Rostock

Our exhibition in Rostock is open from Monday to Friday between 10 and 18. There, the furniture is assembled – lounge groups, dining tables, parasols, lights, and planters from the brands we carry. You can sit down, lay covers next to each other, see the difference between two shades of gray in daylight.

Anyone who plans to come for a specific piece should call beforehand: individual pieces are only available once, and some are only there for a few days. More about the studio and our work is on the page Studio for Curated Outdoor Spaces. How a reduced design language affects the outdoor space, we have described using the example of a series in Reduction as an Attitude.

The currently available pieces are gathered in the overview Exhibition Pieces. The stock changes continuously – what is there, is there; what is sold, disappears.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are exhibition pieces used?

They were assembled and displayed, but not used outdoors. Furniture that has been kept exclusively in an enclosed studio is in almost new physical condition – the difference lies in the time it has spent on display. Time on display, location, and visible traces, we will tell you for every piece upon request – with photos of the concrete item upon request.

How can I tell what condition a piece is in?

From the product description. Time on display, location, and visible traces should be stated there. If the information is missing, you should ask before buying.

Can I expand an exhibition piece later?

That depends on whether the series and cover fabric are still in the manufacturer's program. With ongoing collections, expansion is usually possible, with discontinued series, not. This question should be clarified before buying if an expansion is planned.

How long do I have to wait for delivery?

An exhibition piece is available and can be delivered or picked up immediately. This eliminates the production time that arises with a new order.

Can I look at the furniture before buying?

Yes. The exhibition in Rostock is open Monday to Friday from 10 to 18. For a specific piece, a call beforehand is recommended, because individual pieces can be sold at short notice.