Parker Knoll is a British furniture manufacturing company, originally formed by Frederick Parker, a British furniture manufacturer, and Willi Knoll, a German inventor of a new form of sprung furniture. With roots in the manufacture of high-quality furniture, the brand concentrated on mass-market products from the 1930s to the 1990s. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1950, but taken private in 2004. After financial problems, it was acquired out of administration by Sofa Brands International. In recent years, the brand has moved back to the higher-quality end of the domestic furniture market. Frederick Parker was born in Shoreditch in 1845. He started in business as a chair maker in 1869, after an apprenticeship at his father's furniture factory. He decided to concentrate on making high quality furniture by hand. After working initially in London, Parker moved to High Wycombe - a historic centre of the furniture trade in England - in 1898. Part of the business was to make furniture for ocean liners, including the Palladian Lounge of Cunard's RMS Aquitania, and for P&O liner SS Ophir, which was commissioned as a Royal Yacht, HMS Ophir, in 1901 to carry the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York (the future King George V, and Queen Mary) to Australia.
Parker also made furniture for Viceroy's House in New Delhi, and a carved throne for Emperor Haile Selassie. The business was incorporated as a limited company, Frederick Parker and Sons Ltd, in 1904. Frederick's son, Tom Parker, later took over the business. Willi Knoll was born in Germany and served as a fighter pilot the First World War. His experience of uncomfortable seating in his fighter plane was the inspiration for his invention of a new form of sprung furniture, with coiled steel wire strung across the seat and back, which he manufactured in Stuttgart. Knoll came to Britain in 1929 to find a manufacturer for his chairs using his patent. After Frederick Parker's son, Tom, saw a sample of Knoll's chairs at Heal & Son, the two business quickly formed a new company, Parker Knoll, which was launched at the British Industries Fair in February 1931. The new venture was quickly successful, with advertisements in The Daily Mail and The Daily Telegraph selling low-price tension-sprung furniture in a variety of basic designs.
They also provided furniture for the BBC's Broadcasting House in Portland Place, and Cunard's RMS Queen Mary. Increasing demand led to the construction of a new factory in High Wycombe to a design commissioned from Wallis, Gilbert & Partners in 1935; it was destroyed in a fire in 1970. During the Second World War, the company manufactured A-frames, wooden boxes, and wings for the de Havilland Mosquito, and also repaired gliders, returning to furniture manufacturing after the war. The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in 1950. The company's reclining chairs became a signature item during the 1960s. The company opened new factory in Chipping Norton in the 1960s, which closed in 2003. Other factories in Andover and Bridgend were also closed in 2003. The parent company became Cornwell Parker plc in 1988, and acquired many other furniture manufacturers. The group was acquired by Silentnight Holdings Plc in 2000,[3] and taken private by a company controlled by the Clarke family (the founders of Silentnight) in 2004.
It was bought from Silentnight by Christie-Tyler in March 2005, but Christie-Tyler collapsed into administration within months due to unpaid debts resulting from the financial problems of Courts in November 2004 and Allders in January 2005. It was acquired out of the administration of Christie-Tyler in July 2005 by Sofa Brands International, established by Christie-Tyler's former chief executive Scott Malvenan.[4] Sofa Brands International also acquired other brands, such as G Plan, Derwent Upholstery, Duresta Upholstery and Leabrooks Upholstery. The company is now based in Riddings in Derbyshire. In recent years, the company has returned to its roots at the high-quality end of the furniture market. The current collection is made up of the Classic & Lifestyle sofa ranges. All are designed and manufactured in Derbyshire. When Parker Knoll decided to sell its archive in 1997, a charity - the Frederick Parker Foundation - was established to acquire 170 chairs, 150 carvings and the Frederick Parker Company archive, to maintain as an archive of furniture design and manufacture.
The collection is on long term loan to a dedicated gallery at the London Metropolitan University's resource centre, Metropolitan Works. Compact and refined with neatly tailored slender arms, Lincoln combines contemporary styling with classic comfort. Design your Parker Knoll This exclusively developed software will allow you to visualise your chosen fabrics on your Parker Knoll Sofa or Chair, helping you to create your suite of distinction. “Elegance is the beauty that never fades or goes out of style” “Great lines create beautiful furniture that will never go out of style” As the business steadily grew Frederick Parker began manufacturing furniture for Victorian gentry and leading London retail companies. This growth eventually led to the purchase of larger premises at 16 Wenlock Street, London. Frederick Parker took pride in designing and developing the finest furniture using the best of BritishHe learnt his craft from his father, a cabinet maker, and then passed these skills on to his
These founding principles remain at the core of the business as Parker Knoll continue to lead the market in design, technology and innovation. As demand continued to grow, with the help of his sons, Parker moved the business to High Wycombe. Soon after, the business was served with an order to furnish the Palladian Lounge on RMS Aquitania. Parkers son’s continued to develop the business and in the late 1920’s they met Willi Knoll. His revolutionary ideas to modernise comfort transformed the business. The revolutionary coiled steel wire spring, developed by Willi Knoll remains unchanged in many of our occasional chairs today. Parker Knoll chairs are chosen to furnish most of the rooms and studios at the new BBC headquarters broadcasting house at Portland Place. As a contribution to the war effort, Parker Knoll was involved in the manufacture of aircraft during WWII. Success amongst the masses Following nearly a century of success, Parker Knoll’s awareness and reputation had now extended far beyond its core market.
This suggested that the appreciation and desire for Parker Knoll furniture was spreading to younger and more mass market consumers. Continued expansion of the Parker Knoll collection, following the merger of the Cornwell Norton brand with Parker Knoll broadened the awareness of the brand in the market. With the introduction of fully upholstered suites, rocking chairs and the Maxi Sofa along with a range of over 200 fabrics to suit 1970’s style, Parker Knoll were setting the benchmark for other manufacturers to follow. Parker Knoll remains the leader of the fireside chair and recliner market. Parker Knoll is named The Number 1 Furniture Brand in the UK. Parker Knoll takes up residence in Riddings, Derbyshire. The Parker Knoll brand is relaunched with two new collections: Classic and LifeStyle. New showrooms located inHarrington Mills, Long Eaton are unveiled, alongside heavy investment in an extensive marketing and advertising campaign to launch the Parker Knoll brand identity.