William Parker Furniture
Late 18th-century glassmaker William Parker elevated lighting to a beautiful art form. His stunning chandeliers and candelabras caught the attention of aristocrats and nobles, and he designed luxurious pieces for many royal houses. Consideration of detail and an elegant neoclassical style earned Parker recognition as one of the foremost glass cutters and manufacturers.
Parker established his glass business on Fleet Street in London around the year 1763. His first major attributable commission was for the Bath Assembly Rooms in Bath, England, in 1771. British architect John Wood the Younger designed the interiors in 1769. Upon their completion, Parker was asked to produce lighting for the spaces. His five chandeliers still hang in the ballroom of the historic site and are among the finest surviving examples of 18th-century chandeliers.
Parker’s exquisite work in the Bath Assembly Rooms brought him acclaim and prestige. In 1778, he was commissioned to create chandeliers for the Bath Guildhall as part of a rebuild by architect Thomas Baldwin. In 1782, he supplied lighting to William Cavendish, the 5th Duke of Devonshire, and, from 1783 to 1787, he worked on lighting for Carlton House, a Westminster mansion belonging to the Prince of Wales.
While Parker’s legacy was cemented by his celebrated chandeliers, he was also a pioneering inventor of scientific instruments. His Fleet Street business provided chemists with bell jars and lenses for cutting-edge experiments. In 1784, he sent a sizable burning lens device to the American Philosophical Society. The device and its heating powers were so impressive that Parker was voted in as a member of the society in the following year.
On 1stDibs, find a selection of antique William Parker lighting.
18th Century English George III Antique William Parker Furniture
Cut Glass
18th Century English George III Antique William Parker Furniture
Ormolu
18th Century English George III Antique William Parker Furniture
Silver
Mid-18th Century British George II Antique William Parker Furniture
Silver, Sterling Silver
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage William Parker Furniture
Aluminum, Brass
Late 18th Century English Antique William Parker Furniture
Silver
Early 1900s English Georgian Antique William Parker Furniture
Crystal, Bronze
19th Century European George III Antique William Parker Furniture
Brass
Early 19th Century English George III Antique William Parker Furniture
Sterling Silver
1960s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage William Parker Furniture
Glass
Early 19th Century English George III Antique William Parker Furniture
Brass
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage William Parker Furniture
Bronze
Early 19th Century George III Antique William Parker Furniture
Silver Plate, Copper
1950s French Vintage William Parker Furniture
Steel
