Parker Knoll history
Parker's Hepplewhite style chairs graced the Aquitania's reading room.
The beginning
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.
Our success
From here, Parker Knoll became a huge success. Consumer advertising in the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph helped to make their name known to the public as well as the trade. As a result, Parker Knoll were chosen to furnish the new BBC Headquarters, BBC Broadcasting House in Portland Place as well as the Queen Mary ocean liner - the biggest passenger liner of its time.
War and the proceeding recession temporarily slowed down the development of Parker Knoll. During war time, its factories were used to make A-frames, wooden boxes, airplane wings and to help repair gliders. When war and recession had passed, development continued and when 1968 ended, 1,603,378 chairs had been made in one decade alone.
The rise of the recliner
The 1960s saw a new surge of growth with the creation of a new kind of chair 'the recliner'. When you say the word 'recliner' many people instantly think of Parker Knoll. This new type of chair which was a combination of the conventional easy chair, footstool and chaise longue, allowed its user to choose any of the chair positions, without rising from the chair. The recliner became the best selling chair for many years to come. By the time it celebrated its 25th birthday, 240,689 had been sold.
The future
Although many of Parker Knoll's top selling models were designed in the 1930s, they are still extremely popular and just as beautiful today. As you would expect, Parker Knoll continue to keep up with the latest developments and regularly introduce new designs to suit the requirements of today's demanding consumer. Our newest innovation, SecureLift, offers comfort and exceptional safety, whilst still maintaining the high quality craftsmanship that Parker Knoll customers have come to expect.
Whether it's our updated and sumptuous fabric range, market leading designs, UK production sites, or just the love of beautiful handcrafted furniture; you know you can rely on Parker Knoll.
1869
A newly trained furniture maker named Frederick Parker set up his own chair making business in a room above his father's stables.
1904
Parker's beautiful hand crafted furniture was used for the first Royal Yacht and in 1904 Frederick and his three sons formed Frederick Parker and Sons Ltd.
1931
Frederick Parker joined forces with the Knolls - furniture makers in Stuttgart - who had introduced a new type of spring chair to the German market. Tom Parker, Frederick's son, agreed to make 200 of the new spring chairs each month. These were labelled Parker Knoll and sold at £12.15s 0d.
1932
Parker Knoll chairs were used to furnish the new BBC headquarters, Broadcasting House in Portland Place, as well as the Queen Mary - the largest passenger ocean liner of its time.
1938
Parker Knoll production had reached 1,000 a week. The Hartley Chair, which was popular in the 1930s, is still in production today.
1962
With war and the recession over, production and sales increased. A new factory was opened at Chipping Norton to cope with demand. It was here that the revolutionary recliner chair was made.
1976
The next generation took charge - the descendents of Tom Parker.
Today, Parker Knoll remains a symbol of excellence, and we continue to handcraft our furniture to the same high standards in our UK manufacturing plant.
