26th Annual Frederick Parker Lectures and Dinner

The Frederick Parker Collection is a unique and outstanding educational resource spanning over 300 years of British furniture making and design, from 1660 to the present day.  The Collection comprises over 200 chairs, together with an archive of related historical documents and artefacts and became part of the Furniture Makers’ Company in 2013.

We are delighted that we have three exceptional speakers for the Annual Lectures this year:

Jo Sovin and Peter Fisher – Tales from the Frederick Parker Collection Archive

Jo is the Collections Manager for the Frederick Parker Collection and Archive. Peter is the Outreach Manager for Special Collections at London Metropolitan University, where the Collection and Archive have been housed since 2002.

Jo and Peter have worked together on the Frederick Parker Collection and Archive since 2015. They have led the project to get the Archive fully catalogued and made accessible, including digitally. Together they have jointly managed the outreach programme for the Frederick Parker Collection which, in addition to external exhibitions, loans and the schools and colleges touring exhibition, has included hosting numerous group visits to the Collection and Archive.

Jo and Peter have developed an extensive knowledge of the Archive content, with which they have successfully supported a wide range of research, as well as enquiries from students and the general public.

Their illustrated talk will explore the history and uses of the Archive. They will focus on a number of fascinating stories which will show not only the breadth of this material, but also its value as a resource for education and research.

Fred Baier – The Willy Wonka of Woodwork

Fred Baier is a British furniture designer and maker.   A recent past master of the Art Workers Guild, he is an honorary fellow of the Royal, and Hereford, Colleges of Art.

Fred’s 50 year career, creating pioneering and sculptural furniture objects, utilizes convergent technologies and state of the art processes. His inspirations come from industrial imagery, the built environment and theories of geometrics, structure and proportion. 

Fred will tell stories of his journey through ‘the great analog/digital divide’ guided by his “adjusted” Bauhaus theory that form swallows function.

The lectures will be followed by a sparkling wine reception. We hope you will also wish to stay for the annual dinner (see booking form), which is always a popular and enjoyable occasion and an excellent opportunity to meet other supporters of the Frederick Parker Collection.  Places are limited so please reply as soon as possible using the attached application form.  All proceeds from the evening will go to support the Collection and its development as an educational resource for aspiring furniture designers.