Mid-century furniture by Parker Furniture (Australia)

Parker Furniture is an Australian furniture company that is known for producing mid-century modern furniture during the 1950s to the 1970s. The company was founded in 1935 by two brothers, Jack and Bruce Parker, in Sydney, Australia. Originally, the company produced upholstered furniture, but they later expanded their product line to include mid-century modern designs.

In the 1950s, Parker Furniture began to produce modernist furniture designs that were heavily influenced by the work of Scandinavian designers, particularly Danish designer Hans Wegner. Parker Furniture was known for their use of teak wood, which they sourced from Southeast Asia, and their attention to detail in the construction and finishing of their furniture pieces.

Some of the most iconic pieces produced by Parker Furniture include the Parker Knoll armchair, the Parker-Eames lounge chair, and the Parker sideboard. These designs were not only popular in Australia, but they were also exported more... to the United States and Europe, where they gained a following among mid-century modern enthusiasts.

In the 1970s, Parker Furniture faced financial difficulties due to increased competition from cheaper imports and a downturn in the economy. The company was eventually acquired by AH Beard, a mattress manufacturer, in 1975. Although the Parker Furniture brand continued to produce furniture under AH Beard's ownership, they shifted their focus to more traditional designs and eventually ceased production altogether in the late 1980s. less...