The story began in 1869 with an enthusiastic young furniture maker named Frederick Parker. After completing an apprenticeship at his father's furniture factory, Frederick set up his own chair making business. In a small room above his father's stables, he could be seen handcrafting the finest furniture for the Victorian gentry.
Frederick was convinced that the only way to produce fine furniture for contemporary use would be by studying the 'old masters'. So he bought a library of books on furniture from the 17th to the 19th centuries, together with carvings and textiles. He faithfully drew on these models and encouraged his craftsmen to acquire and develop traditional skills.
This approach proved successful. After several years, Frederick moved from his loft room to larger production facilities throughout the East End and North London and finally to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire in 1898. The company Frederick Parker and Sons Ltd was registered in 1904. Their handmade sofas and armchairs had a reputation for quality and excellence, just as they have today.
It was this steadfast reputation for high quality chairs that won Parker the opportunity to furnish a number of the world's greatest ocean liners, including the Aquitania's Palladian Lounge, which was heralded as "one of the most elegant rooms afloat".
The birth of Parker Knoll
The Parkers had always been excited by new innovations, so when Willi Knoll from Stuttgart, Germany, put forward a revolutionary idea for spring furniture, Frederick Parker and Sons saw the design as having great potential.
Knoll's unique idea was a tension and suspension spring made of coiled steel wire, which was attached across both the seat and back of the chair for extra comfort. Legend has it that in the First World War, a German fighter pilot, fed up with the uncomfortable seat in his fighter, got hold of some short coil springs and used them as the base for a more comfortable seat. This pilot was known to Willi Knoll and may have been the inspiration for the use of springs in his own chairs.
From this new idea, a new partnership was born. At the British Industries Fair in February 1931, the company Parker Knoll was founded.
Frederick was convinced that the only way to produce fine furniture for contemporary use would be by studying the 'old masters'. So he bought a library of books on furniture from the 17th to the 19th centuries, together with carvings and textiles. He faithfully drew on these models and encouraged his craftsmen to acquire and develop traditional skills.
This approach proved successful. After several years, Frederick moved from his loft room to larger production facilities throughout the East End and North London and finally to High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire in 1898. The company Frederick Parker and Sons Ltd was registered in 1904. Their handmade sofas and armchairs had a reputation for quality and excellence, just as they have today.
It was this steadfast reputation for high quality chairs that won Parker the opportunity to furnish a number of the world's greatest ocean liners, including the Aquitania's Palladian Lounge, which was heralded as "one of the most elegant rooms afloat".
The birth of Parker Knoll
The Parkers had always been excited by new innovations, so when Willi Knoll from Stuttgart, Germany, put forward a revolutionary idea for spring furniture, Frederick Parker and Sons saw the design as having great potential.
Knoll's unique idea was a tension and suspension spring made of coiled steel wire, which was attached across both the seat and back of the chair for extra comfort. Legend has it that in the First World War, a German fighter pilot, fed up with the uncomfortable seat in his fighter, got hold of some short coil springs and used them as the base for a more comfortable seat. This pilot was known to Willi Knoll and may have been the inspiration for the use of springs in his own chairs.
From this new idea, a new partnership was born. At the British Industries Fair in February 1931, the company Parker Knoll was founded.
Parker Knoll
Parker Knoll - Albert Chair
Parker Knoll - Amersham Sofa
Parker Knoll - Amersham Armchair
Parker Knoll - Amersham Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Amersham Large Two Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Amersham Snuggler
Parker Knoll - Arlington Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Arlington Chair
Parker Knoll - Arlington Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Boston Recliner Armchair
Parker Knoll - Boston 3 Seater Recliner Sofa
Parker Knoll - Boston 2 Seater Recliner Sofa
Parker Knoll - Boston Leather Armchair
Parker Knoll - Boston 2 Seater Recliner Sofa
Parker Knoll - Boston Leather Chair
Parker Knoll - Boston Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Boston Rise and Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Boston Chair
Parker Knoll - Boston Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Burghley Suite
Parker Knoll - Burghley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Burghley Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Burghley 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - Burghley Chair
Parker Knoll - Canterbury Armchair
Parker Knoll - Canterbury 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Canterbury Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Canterbury Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Canterbury Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Chatsworth Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Denham Footstool
Parker Knoll - Devonshire Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Devonshire 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Devonshire Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Edward Chair
Parker Knoll - Edward Chair
Parker Knoll - Evesham Chair
Parker Knoll - Evesham Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Evesham Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Evesham Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Evesham Snuggler Chair
Parker Knoll - Hartley Wing Chair
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Chair
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Armchair
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Chair
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Chair
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Chair
Parker Knoll - Henley Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Henley Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Henley Large 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - Hudson Group
Parker Knoll - Hudson Rise and Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Hudson Recliner Sofas and Chair
Parker Knoll - Hudson 2 Seater Recliner Sofa
Parker Knoll - Hudson 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - Hudson Sofas and Chair
Parker Knoll - Hudson Armchair
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 3 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 3 Seater Recliner Sofa - Leather
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 Chair
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 Leather Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 2 Seater Recliner Sofa
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 Riser Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 2 Seater Leather Recliner Sofa
Parker Knoll - Hudson 23 Footstool
Parker Knoll - Lift Top Footstool
Parker Knoll - Mitford Accent Chair
Parker Knoll - Mitford Accent Chair
Parker Knoll - Moseley Footstool
Parker Knoll - Oakham Suite
Parker Knoll - Oakham 3 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Oxford Footstool
Parker Knoll - Penshurst Wing Chair
Parker Knoll - Penshurst Wing Chair
Parker Knoll - Penshurst Wing Chair
Parker Knoll - Regency Wing Chair
Parker Knoll - Sandringham Storage Footstool
Parker Knoll - Sienna Chair
Parker Knoll - Sophie Chair
Parker Knoll - Westbury Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Westbury Chairs and Sofa
Parker Knoll - Westbury Large 2 Seater Sofa
Parker Knoll - Westbury Sofa and Chair
Parker Knoll - Westbury Chair
Parker Knoll - Westbury Grand Sofa
Parker Knoll - Westbury Armchair
Parker Knoll - Westbury Armchair
Parker Knoll - Westbury 2 Seater Leather Sofa
Parker Knoll - York Chair
Parker Knoll - York Manual Recliner Chair
Parker Knoll - York Wing Chair