Description

Provenance and Background Info

(This suite sold through iNVISeDGE in 2007. I would be interested in stocking this design in iNVISeDGE again but it would depend on the style and condition of the fabric. Get in contact with us if you have a suite like this TO SELL that you’d think we’d be interested in stocking.)

This description was written in 2019.

A 2-Seater lounge sofa made in Australia in the 1960’s by PARKER. (This sofa sold through iNVISeDGE for $695 back in 2007. The matching pair of chairs is not included in the price and listed on our website SEPARATELY.)

I had to upload this listing that sold back in 2007. This style of design is everywhere now- in Australia the likes of Coco Republic, Clu, Jardan, Arthur G and even Freedom Furniture have similar designs as mainstays. Overseas there are many Danish furniture companies making designs like this, even B & B Italia has several that are very similar. This design is the epitome of timeless and elegant. However it has been around in Australia since the 1960’s- Parker Furniture was the first in Australia to do a design like this. It wasn’t one of their most successful ranges (there are not many around) and in 2007 before virtually every retailer was releasing similar designs, this piece of landmark design was very sought after. It’s still a very smart investment in furniture because buyers know the quality of what they’d be getting- look at this suite after almost 50 years of use! (The suite in these photos sold in 2007- this design is older now). This is the original covering of the 1960’s and this is why I was so keen to stock this suite back in 2007- the upholstery only needed a professional steam-clean and it was ready for another generation of use. The other big reason I was keen on this was that many suites in this design were upholstered in hopelessly dated fabrics that whilst brilliant in quality, wouldn’t really be wanted in any home today. Re-upholstery in Australia is not cheap (you’re paying for Australian workers not “slavery” in developing countries such as China) so suites with upholstery that are not saleable are a hard-sell. This upholstery on the other hand, is neutral and timeless but also distinct of the era.

These days in 2019, this Parker design is a strong investment- it was a landmark piece of design in Australia. Parker copied it from what was happening in Europe years earlier (as they did with most of their designs) but the quality of Parker Furniture is irrefutable. It’s the quality of Parker Furniture that earned their reputation- they also did a great job at getting the designs “right” with regards to practicality, comfort and styling. These 1960’s pieces prove that good vintage design never goes out of style and are a very strong investment. I sold this full suite (all 3 pieces) for $1795 in 2007. Today if I got the exact same suite (in the same condition) I’d price it at more. Despite the fact you can buy this style of lounge suite virtually everywhere these days, there are a band of buyers who know that the quality of the build here is irrefutable and that if the fabric works in their home there’s no better way to invest in their homes and help care for our environment. These suites are nearing 60 years old (in 2019) and a symbol that when something is done well it will evade landfill and live on.