Description
SOLD through iNVISeDGE for $1,195 back in 2006. Today in 2022 I’d price the same sideboard at around $2,300.
I’m generally not keen on sideboards by Parker and the likes. They’re quite well-built pieces but they’re made out of bloody chipboard! I have never understood how Parker could have ever thought it was a good idea to spend so much time building these cabinets and then skimp on the key ingredient to make them properly (ie. real timber!). There are a plethora of reasons why investment furniture (to be passed from one generation to the next) should not be made our of chipboard. (I may expand on this listing in the future but not today.)
Up until 2009, I stocked vintage Parker sideboards because buyers wanted them and they were Parker. Parker is held up on a pedestal to giddy heights for reasons I don’t truly understand (perhaps because there’s quite a lot of Parker items out there so everyone knows it ??) Parker lounge chairs from the early 1960’s and their dining chairs from the same era are solid investments (and are actually pretty hard to get these days- 2022) but the case-goods made by Parker at the same time are not what I’d call a smart investment. The “Nordic” design sideboard that Parker made from the early-1960’s is quite easy to find. They always seem to be on Marketplace and Gumtree for prices I don’t understand. They are a direct rip-off of Danish designs that were done at the same time so on top of being pretty easy to source you can buy vintage Danish pieces from the same era that look very similar but are not made out of chipboard! (A lot of the Danish ones don’t have any chipboard in them at all.)
The only Parker sideboards I’d be interested in stocking in iNVISeDGE these days are their designs from the 1970’s (like the one shown in this listing). They’re NOT easy to get and to my knowledge the design is actually Parker’s own. I’ve not seen any others from the era (Australian or international) that look like this. I love the simplicity of this design and the symmetry. It’s very pleasing to the eye and also has a classy element that gets noticed. I love the solid, thick bordering- this creates a very subtle focal point although there’s not really any real point of focus. This is a minimal, tidy piece; the sled-based legs just tops off a really well-executed design.
But I will say it again- these are still made of chipboard under timber veneer. You have to be careful with them. It wouldn’t take too much carelessness for these to end up as landfill. The investment appeal is strong because they are hard to get, the design sits outside of what was done to death all through the 1960’s and to my eye, this design is close to perfect for a cabinet in this style. In my opinion, this design will continue to increase in value (along with inflation at least). I would personally have one of these in my own home so I’d be keen for regular sellers to bring this design to iNVISeDGE to list under consignment. (I MAY consider them from private sellers particularly if you supply good, clear photos of your piece straight up.)
Oh and I almost forgot. I also like their choice of timber veneer for these. I don’t think it’s teak or blackwood ?? Maybe it’s Tasmanian Oak- I’m not a timber expert so I’m not sure but there’s virtually no patterning in the grain. It’s a “clean” non-elaborate grain in the timber which works perfectly for this design. Any patterning in the timber would have ruined the clean lines. I’d like to say this is Australian Furniture at its best. If they didn’t use chipboard, it definitely would have been.
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