IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The seller is ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS GbR, Anklamer Str. 50, 10115 Berlin, Germany.

Email: objects@allenkaufmann.de
Telephone: +49 163 470 55 48
VAT identification number: DE296641180

This website presents a limited catalog of prototypes, one-offs, development studies, production tests, exhibition pieces, previously used studio objects, artworks, books and objects produced in limited quantities.

The website is not an online shop. No purchase contract is concluded by viewing the catalog, selecting an object, submitting a purchase inquiry or contacting ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS.

A purchase inquiry is non-binding. It does not constitute an order, acceptance or purchase, and it does not automatically reserve or remove an object from availability. ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS may confirm a temporary hold in writing, but neither an inquiry nor a hold confirmation creates a purchase contract.

Unless otherwise indicated, each object is available as a single piece. Books, booklets, postcards and other paper products may be available in multiple copies.

Because many objects are unique, availability can change at short notice. ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS will confirm availability after receiving an inquiry.

The catalog may contain inadvertent errors relating to availability, dimensions, materials, dates, descriptions or prices. Any material correction will be communicated before a purchase contract is concluded.

After receiving a purchase inquiry, ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS may confirm availability and arrange a showroom viewing. Additional photographs, dimensions, condition information, care instructions and safety information may be provided before the viewing.

All objects must be inspected in person. A purchase contract is concluded only in person at the AKO showroom after inspection of the object and confirmation of the final price and terms. No purchase contract is concluded through the website, email, telephone, text message or another means of distance communication.

Prices for consumers are shown as gross prices and include VAT. Net prices may be shown additionally for businesses.

The final gross price, net price where relevant, condition and any agreed supplementary costs are confirmed before the contract is concluded in the showroom.

The payment method is agreed at the time of purchase. The object remains the property of ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS until full payment has been received.

Objects are purchased and collected from the AKO showroom at Anklamer Str. 50, 10115 Berlin. A separate collection appointment may be agreed for objects that cannot be taken away immediately.

Delivery or shipping is not currently offered. Any later transport arrangement would require a separate express agreement after the in-person purchase.

Because purchase contracts are concluded in person at the showroom, the statutory right of withdrawal for distance contracts does not apply. Statutory defect rights remain unaffected.

Any voluntary return or exchange must be expressly agreed in writing.

The AKO Archive Sale includes objects from an active architecture, design, art and prototyping practice. Some objects were made by hand by Justin Allen, Thomas Allen or other collaborators. Others were produced as prototypes or tests with workshops and manufacturers in Germany, Portugal, Poland and Upstate New York.

These objects should not automatically be understood as conventional serially manufactured products. A prototype may represent a particular stage in the development of an idea and may differ from later or current versions.

Objects may carry traces of:

• hand fabrication, machining or production testing;
• assembly, disassembly, adjustment or repair;
• exhibition, photography and showroom display;
• studio use, transport or storage;
• natural material variation and aging.

These characteristics form part of the specific object and its history. They do not necessarily prevent its stated or intended use.

Each object is offered in the condition shown and described on its individual catalog page and during the showroom viewing. Photographs form part of the condition description. Customers should review the photographs, dimensions, material information and written condition notes carefully before purchasing.

Additional photographs, measurements, information or a showroom viewing may be requested. Known significant characteristics such as cracks, chips, repairs, missing components, production irregularities, unusual tolerances, dimensional deviations, surface damage or functional limitations will be communicated individually before purchase.

Where an object differs from the condition that would normally be expected, that particular difference will be identified before the showroom purchase and separately accepted by the customer.

New / Unused
Newly produced or never used. No visible signs of normal use. Minor variations resulting from material, handwork or prototype production may still be present.

Very Good / Display Condition
Previously displayed, photographed, assembled or lightly used. Fully functional for its stated purpose, with only minimal signs of handling or use.

Good / Used Condition
Functional for its stated purpose, but with visible signs of use, handling, transport, aging or repair. Significant characteristics will be identified and photographed individually.

Prototype characteristics are not automatically treated as condition damage. Test cuts, tooling marks, hand adjustments, engraved part markings, experimental tolerances and fabrication traces may document the object’s development.

Wood, metal, leather, ceramics, paint, paper and experimental materials can change over time. Solid wood may move, darken, lighten, react to humidity or develop small surface cracks. Untreated or patinated metal may scratch, oxidize, tarnish or develop a changing surface. Leather may crease, stretch, darken and develop a patina. Ceramics and handmade finishes may contain variations associated with their production.

Unless expressly described otherwise, objects should be kept indoors and protected from prolonged moisture, standing water, extreme temperatures, rapid climatic changes and excessive direct sunlight.

Unless individual care information states otherwise, clean objects carefully using a soft, dry cloth or one that is only slightly damp. Avoid abrasive pads, hard brushes, solvents, alcohol, bleach, aggressive chemicals, excessive water, steam cleaning and unapproved furniture polish or oil. Test any cleaning method first on a small concealed area.

Objects should be used only for the purpose stated in their individual description or otherwise communicated by ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS. An object described as a study, sculpture, display object or non-operational prototype should not be assumed to be suitable for seating, climbing, food contact, outdoor use, open flame, electricity or another functional purpose.

Unless expressly identified as such, AKO objects are not toys and are not designed for unsupervised use by children.

Where assembly, installation, wall fixing, fire, heat, electricity, food contact or another specific safety consideration is relevant, the principal safety information is shown on the individual catalog page. Additional assembly, use and care information may also be supplied before conclusion of the purchase contract and with the object through a demonstration, written instructions, photographs, a diagram, PDF, digital link or video. Where correct use or care is unclear, the customer should contact ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS before proceeding.

Some AKO objects use reversible, tool-free or experimental dry-joinery systems. These objects should be assembled and disassembled only in the intended sequence. Do not force, strike, enlarge, cut, sand, drill, glue or otherwise alter a joint unless instructed. Stop assembly if cracking, splitting or excessive resistance occurs.

Certain components are intentionally not permanently glued and may slide, loosen or separate when an object is moved, lifted incorrectly or assembled out of sequence. Before use, confirm that every component is fully and correctly engaged. Secure removable or sliding parts before moving the object.

Furniture should be placed on a stable, level surface and used only for its intended purpose. Do not stand, jump or climb on chairs, benches, stools, tables, shelves or podiums, and avoid excessive, concentrated, dynamic or uneven loads. Tall shelves and objects that could tip should be secured to a suitable wall where stated or reasonably required.

Stop using an object if it becomes loose, unstable, cracked or otherwise damaged. Appropriate wall fixings must be selected for the construction and condition of the wall; fixings are included only where expressly stated.

Objects intended for candles, incense, Palo Santo or another flame or heat source must be used with particular care. Never leave a flame, ember or burning material unattended. Keep fire and hot objects away from children, animals, draughts, curtains, paper, textiles and other combustible materials.

Place the object on a stable, level, non-flammable and heat-resistant surface. Use only heat sources suitable for its dimensions and design. Do not move or clean the object while a flame is burning or while it remains hot. Stop using it if it becomes excessively hot, scorched, cracked, unstable or otherwise damaged.

Candles must be extinguished before the flame falls below the upper surface of the wooden holder or below the upper edge of any adjacent wooden component. A flame must never burn beside or beneath a wooden surface.

Where an incense stick is held horizontally, use only a straight, securely fitting stick. Position it centrally and parallel to the holder so that the ember cannot contact the object. Extinguish it before the ember reaches the holder.

Only an object expressly described or confirmed as operational may be connected to mains electricity. Follow the voltage, light-source type and maximum wattage specified for the individual object and use only compatible bulbs and components.

Do not use an electrical object if its cable, plug, switch, fitting or body is damaged, loose, altered or exposed to water. Disconnect it immediately if it overheats, produces an unusual smell, sparks or behaves unexpectedly. An object not expressly confirmed as operational must be treated as a display object or non-operational prototype.

Any hardwired installation, rewiring, repair or electrical alteration must be carried out by a suitably qualified person.

Unless expressly stated otherwise, experimental ceramic vessels, cups, bowls, trays and similar pieces should be treated as decorative objects. Do not assume that an object is food-safe, dishwasher-safe, microwave-safe, waterproof or suitable for prolonged contact with liquids unless this is specifically confirmed.

Only objects expressly identified as suitable for food contact may be used for food preparation, serving or storage. For wooden objects confirmed as food-contact suitable, do not immerse them in water or place them in a dishwasher unless specifically stated otherwise. Clean both sides carefully and allow the object to dry fully and evenly.

Colors shown on screens may differ from the original object because of photography, lighting, reflective materials and individual screen settings. Unless expressly stated, frames, hanging systems, wall fixings and installation services are not included.

Paintings, books and works on paper should be protected from moisture, prolonged direct sunlight, excessive heat and unsuitable hanging or storage conditions. The customer is responsible for selecting a hanging method appropriate to the weight of the work and the construction of the wall.

The purchase transfers ownership of the physical object only. Copyright, design rights, patent rights, trademarks, drawings, photographs, production information and reproduction rights remain with their respective owners unless expressly transferred in writing.

Purchasing an object does not grant permission to reproduce, manufacture, commercially copy or use its design, images or documentation for commercial purposes.

Statutory rights concerning defects remain applicable. Unless expressly stated for an individual object, ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS does not provide an additional voluntary commercial guarantee.

Descriptions of prototype character, condition, known variations and individually agreed characteristics form part of the agreed condition of the specific object. No general statement in this document excludes rights or liability that cannot legally be excluded.

ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS is liable without limitation where liability results from:

• intentional conduct or gross negligence;
• injury to life, body or health;
• a statutory product-liability obligation;
• a guarantee expressly assumed by ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS;
• another liability that cannot legally be excluded or restricted.

In cases of ordinary negligence, liability for property or financial damage is limited to the breach of an essential contractual obligation whose fulfilment is necessary for proper performance of the contract and on which the customer may ordinarily rely. In such cases, liability is limited to foreseeable damage typical for the contract. Nothing in this section limits statutory defect rights.

To the extent permitted by law, ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS is not responsible for damage caused solely after handover by use contrary to the stated purpose; failure to follow information or warnings; incorrect assembly or installation; unauthorized alteration, repair or refinishing; inappropriate cleaning; unattended flames; electrical alteration; continued use after visible damage; or improper storage, handling or transport.

This does not apply where the damage was caused or contributed to by an existing product defect or by a breach of an obligation for which ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS remains legally responsible.

German law applies. For consumers, this choice of law does not deprive them of mandatory consumer protections that apply under the law of their habitual residence.

The courts of Berlin have exclusive jurisdiction only where the customer is a merchant, a legal entity under public law or a special fund under public law, or where another agreement on jurisdiction is legally permitted.

ALLEN KAUFMANN OBJECTS is not willing or obliged to participate in dispute-resolution proceedings before a consumer conciliation body, unless a legal obligation arises in an individual case.

If an individual provision of this information is invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain unaffected. The applicable statutory rule replaces the invalid provision.