William Parker Lighting
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 Lighting
Ormolu
1960s American American Craftsman Vintage William Parker Lighting
Aluminum
1950s Italian Other Vintage William Parker Lighting
Glass
1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage William Parker Lighting
Murano Glass
1950s Italian Vintage William Parker Lighting
Chrome
1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage William Parker Lighting
Aluminum, Brass
1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage William Parker Lighting
Crystal, Chrome
1970s Italian Modern Vintage William Parker Lighting
Gold Plate
1950s Italian Vintage William Parker Lighting
Glass
1950s French Vintage William Parker Lighting
Steel
Early 1900s English Georgian Antique William Parker Lighting
Crystal, Bronze
1950s Italian Vintage William Parker Lighting
Murano Glass
Mid-20th Century Italian George III William Parker Lighting
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern William Parker Lighting
Stainless Steel, Chrome