Maitland Smith Desks
The eclectic furnishings of Maitland-Smith celebrate artisan skills in an age of machines. Hand-carved woodwork, inlaid marquetry, painted detailing, gilding and lost wax casting lend the company’s decorative accents an artistic flair. Focused on pieces that add a dynamic flourish to an interior by incorporating tactile materials like leather, seashell inlays and crushed eggshell, the manufacturer draws inspiration across centuries, from the curvy forms of the Louis XV period to the geometric angles of mid-century modernism.
Paul Maitland-Smith established the company in Hong Kong in 1979, after getting his start in London in the 1950s as an antique dealer who also sold reproduction furniture, something that would become a Maitland-Smith specialty. The manufacturer’s early reproductions of 17th- and 18th-century furniture included Chippendale dining chairs, and soon afterward, Maitland-Smith expanded into a range of decorative designs that often exuded a whimsical spirit, whether a coffee table shaped like a stack of books or a pair of decorative obelisks. Maitland-Smith’s signature sculptural table lamps in particular show off this playful sensibility, with one balancing a pen-shell shade on a monkey’s tail and another taking on the form of a miniature hot-air balloon.
Since its founding, Maitland-Smith’s sourcing has been based in Asia, and although Paul Maitland-Smith later sold the company that still bears his name and is now headquartered in North Carolina, the brand’s furnishings are still largely made in Cebu, Philippines.
Today, Maitland-Smith continues to innovate on its finely crafted offerings by collaborating with contemporary designers and studios such as Tony Duquette Studios (founded by set and costume designer Tony Duquette in 1941), Celerie Kemble and painter and textile designer Susan Hable Smith.
Find a wide range of Maitland-Smith furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
Mid-20th Century American Chippendale Maitland Smith Desks
Brass
Mid-20th Century Philippine British Colonial Maitland Smith Desks
Leather, Faux Bamboo
Late 20th Century Philippine Regency Revival Maitland Smith Desks
Brass
1970s Philippine Neoclassical Revival Vintage Maitland Smith Desks
Brass, Iron
Late 20th Century Maitland Smith Desks
Wood
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Maitland Smith Desks
Leather, Grasscloth, Mahogany
Late 20th Century Philippine Mid-Century Modern Maitland Smith Desks
Shell
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Maitland Smith Desks
Precious Stone
Late 20th Century Art Deco Maitland Smith Desks
Brass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Maitland Smith Desks
Steel, Chrome
1980s Regency Vintage Maitland Smith Desks
Walnut
2010s American Regency Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Mid-Century Modern Maitland Smith Desks
Wood
1890s Chippendale Antique Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany
1940s English George III Vintage Maitland Smith Desks
Leather, Wood
1880s American Empire Antique Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany
Early 1900s Chippendale Antique Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century German Scandinavian Modern Maitland Smith Desks
Metal
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Maitland Smith Desks
Brass
Mid-18th Century English Chippendale Antique Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Maitland Smith Desks
Brass
20th Century English Maitland Smith Desks
Walnut
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Maitland Smith Desks
Leather, Faux Bamboo
20th Century Philippine British Colonial Maitland Smith Desks
Brass
20th Century Georgian Maitland Smith Desks
Glass, Mahogany
20th Century Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany, Burl
2010s American Modern Maitland Smith Desks
Ivory, Rosewood
Late 20th Century Philippine Regency Maitland Smith Desks
Chrome
1980s Philippine Louis XV Vintage Maitland Smith Desks
Shagreen Stingray
20th Century Asian Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany
20th Century English Arts and Crafts Maitland Smith Desks
Wood
20th Century Philippine Maitland Smith Desks
Mahogany
20th Century Louis XVI Maitland Smith Desks
Brass
Maitland Smith desks for sale on 1stDibs.
- What is Maitland-Smith?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Maitland-Smith is a furniture company founded in 1979 in Hong Kong. The company originally produced reproductions of 17th- and 18th-century furniture and then branched out to create an eclectic range of original designs. Many of its pieces feature decorative tops with hand-applied inlays and carved details. You'll find a selection of Maitland-Smith furniture on 1stDibs.
- Who is Maitland-Smith Furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Originally founded by a London-based antiques dealer, Maitland-Smith Furniture has grown its luxury furniture brand into one that is synonymous with fine-quality specialties. Its designs feature hand-carved woodwork, inlaid marquetry and painted detailing to add extra elegance to every piece. Shop a collection of Maitland-Smith furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.
- Who owns Maitland-Smith?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022RHF Investments owns Maitland-Smith as of December 2021. The company operates from its headquarters in Hickory, North Carolina, and gained control of numerous brands in 2018, including Maitland-Smith, Hickory Chair and Pearson. You'll find a variety of Maitland-Smith furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Yes, Maitland-Smith is still in business. RHF Investments owns the brand as of December 2021. The North Carolina-based company acquired the brand in 2018 when the previous owner, the Heritage Home Group, filed for bankruptcy. Shop a range of Maitland-Smith furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Maitland-Smith makes much of its furniture in Cebu, Philippines. Skilled artisans build each piece by hand and apply the intricate carvings and inlays synonymous with the brand's style. You'll find a collection of Maitland-Smith furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022To identify Maitland-Smith furniture, look for the brand's tag. Typically, the manufacturer placed a tag on the underside or back of their pieces. Wording on the tags varies, but usually says the brand name above the words "hand made in the Philippines." Shop a collection of expertly vetted Maitland-Smith furniture on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022Maitland-Smith started operating in 1979. Former furniture dealer Paul Maitland-Smith launched the company in Hong Kong to produce reproductions of 17th- and 18th-century furniture. Eventually, the brand expanded to create original designs. You'll find a range of Maitland-Smith furniture on 1stDibs.