Wednesday, August 8, 2012

P is for Parker

Open an Australian interiors magazine these days and more often than not, you'll see a piece of vintage Parker furniture - usually a buffet or sideboard from the 50's or 60's (with a West German vase or three atop it!) It's the in-thing, and has been for quite a while, not only because it's Australian and beautifully made, but also because it's more affordable than the Danish and Scandinavian modernist furniture it so closely resembles.
(it is getting pricier though, especially here in Perth)

Parker Furniture exhibit at the Furniture Exhibition 1962
image via

Parker was established in 1935 by Jack Parker and Alf Dagger in Sydney NSW. It was Jack's son Tony who designed their mid-century range in 1951 and who was responsible for introducing teak furniture to Australians in the 60's. It is the teak stuff that is hugely popular now.

Parker-Knoll furniture exhibition Furniture Show 1966
image via

Obviously that's a potted history, if you're a fan I recommend you read Alan Perry's series on Parker Furniture which appeared in the Woodworkers Association of NSW newsletter in 2011. Click here for part one, two and three. You might have to scroll down a bit to get to Alan's articles, but it's worth it.

Anyway, after lusting after a piece of Parker for our house for years, I finally got my hands on a lovely eight seater dining suite on the weekend. It was manufactured in 1979, so it doesn't have quite the cred of its teaky 60's brothers and sisters, but it's beautifully made - the mechanics of the extension thingy are incredible, and I love it.

Here it is, looking a bit at sea, in the back unrenovated end of our house 

(there is another carver, it's currently in the grown-ups t.v. room)

and here's a much nicer pic courtesy of the chap I bought it from

(they're Fler's in the background)


" Throughout the last half of the 20th Century people were proud to say: I own a piece of Parker " Alan Perry. 

And now, I do too. Yay!

Now, and this bit is important...

P is also for perilous. And the journey to pick up our Parker was just that. I'm not going to go into detail - if Anthony was home we would've hired a trailer and picked it up ourselves. Easy. Instead I used a pick up/delivery service and travelled with the driver. Stupida!
I'm fine, safe and sound, but please, promise me, you will remember what your Mum and Dad told you about Stranger Danger when you were little, and NEVER EVER get into a car with someone you don't know. There are a lot of weirdos out there ok, just remember that. Thanks x  

p.s. on a happier note, P is also for Pansies, and after two months! I finally have my first flower

about bl**** time!







23 comments:

  1. I'm with you on the Parker furniture. I am still longing for my dream sideboard, but they are fetching such high prices lately. I'm hoping my patience will one day be rewarded with a beautiful sideboard at the right price. Thanks for sharing the info. Great score on your dining set. Xx

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  2. The things we do for the love of Vintage...so glad you survived your retrieval trip xx

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  3. Looks comfy! Don't like the sounds of your trip back with it though.

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  4. Love your dining suite!
    But, oh my goodness, Kylie! Next time you use the services of a man with a van, make sure you don't go alone!
    Take care,
    Sue x

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  5. Oh, Kylie, your new table and chairs are beautiful! Now I know why you couldn't quit thinking about them. I'm so glad you decided to buy them. Now I'm going to settle in and read the series on Parker Furniture. Thanks for those links.

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  6. I'm even paranoid about using taxi's...as you said, so many weirdo's about these days. Glad you made it home intact - sounds quite alarming.

    I know you are going to love that dining set for years and years - even though I have never met you I can see it's so very you! :) Beautiful.

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  7. That's a very lovely dining room set. *WOW* You make me want a piece of Parker too. *heheheh*
    =D

    *Grrrr* Next time have a friend be with you if you are in a situation where you you would otherwise be alone with a strange person. Obviously you now now..... I suppose I am too late in telling you as you are now telling us. *eeeeep*

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  8. I'd love to find a bargain Parker side board/buffet for the lounge room. It's been on my list for a while now.
    Love your dining suite.
    And yay for the Pansie flowering.
    x

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  9. Crikey kylie, glad your ok! I learned my lesson early hitchicking as a teenager i found a nutter too, never again! The furniture looks beaut. I just got a fab parcel from you, thanks so much. It reminded me that i was going to send you those ladybirds weeks ago, forgot in my misery of morning sickness but have just packed em up and will get terry to send in the morning xxx

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  10. Your Parker looks so regal. Love it. So what happened to the th brown setting? xx

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  11. Kylie Love I SHUDDER to think of the story behind the STRANGER DANGER warning....THANK HEAVENS your new (to you) PARKER dining table table & chairs are GORGEOUS....Would hate to think you got a fright for NOTHING....!!!!!

    Take care,
    Tamarah xx

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  12. nice table! BUT not nice weirdo starnger warning!!!
    When i look back on the things i used to do when i was younger....getting into starngers cars...! it freaks me out, but i suppose times were a bit different then....or maybe i was just lucky!

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  13. Yet another love we share, mr ouchflower and I used our honeymoon money on a Parker dining suite, who needs a shag fest when you can sit in style every evening! And I'm writing this in my Parker wingback chair, the Mama chair!
    Yours looks lovely! In great nick! Did you pick up the Flers as well?

    As for the crazy ride, glad to hear you're safe and well, we kinda like you round here so take care!
    xx

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  14. And a Parker coffee table too....now I'm showing off but I really do love Parker and been collecting for 6 years!

    xx

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  15. I love the dining table in here . I really appreciate this post ..
    Furniture stores perth

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  16. Gorgeous furniture. I wish my mum had kept the teak dining table and chairs we had at home from the 1960s, it was very much that style (probably not Parker-Knoll though, they wouldn't have been able to afford that!)
    PS. I am SURE I commented on this post before, Blogger seems to be picking on me and not publishing my comments. Bah! It could also be that I am dementing, of course...xxx

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  17. I LOVE Parker Knoll. Unfortunately my other half is having none of it....ludite!! Have you got your package yet?
    Px

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  18. Boy am I glad you are okay! I love this style of furniture...I don't know much about names etc but definitley know what I love and your dining suite is awesome. I had two chairs with wooden arms like those in the first pic back home..picked them up for $5 each and left them behind with my sister very reluctantly. She ended up throwing them out.
    x

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  19. How am I missing all your posts? Your table is beautiful and one day it'll be graced by you, A and your beautiful girls.

    You're safe. Forget that creep. Warn those daughters of yours. I'd march right across Australia and bring my finger-print-expert husband to go ballistic on anyone who harmed your pretty Mid-Century-loving head.

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  20. Kylie - getting caught up on your posts. Great dining set!

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  21. Waddya know, I found this post when searching for history of Parker Furniture!! Read my current post, and weep.

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  22. Hey, sorry for hijacking your blog, but I have a set of those chairs - second picture down - with an extendable table which is in my garage looking for a new home. Only problem: I'm in Christchurch! If anyone's interested I'm at p.bol.ger+parker+dining+suite@gmail.com

    It'd be nice for it to go somewhere where it'd be appreciated.

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  23. Hey, those chairs looks so comfy! BY the way, if you are interested on seeing antique furnitures, visit: www.morethanantiques.com.au.

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