Consider it the ultimate royal seal of approval: When the young Linley founder, David Linley, made a decorative box as a teenager — a project he’d crafted at Bedales School that impressed his teacher — it was proudly passed around as a cigar box at parties by the Queen Mother. Of course, the royal treatment makes a bit more sense when you consider that the Queen was simply grandmother to the future furniture designer Linley, formally David Albert Charles Armstrong-Jones, second earl of Snowdon, son of Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones.
Born in London, Linley was creative from an early age — a characteristic eagerly encouraged at home with his parents and at Kensington Palace with the extended family. After completing his studies in carpentry and design at Parnham House in 1982, Linley set up his first studio. Within three years he had moved to King’s Road in Chelsea and, with his friend painter and designer Matthew Rice, officially cofounded Linley, a source for luxury furniture and accessories and bespoke carpentry and millwork.
The brand was a quick success. When Linley presented its first line at Christie’s in 1985 — a collection of furniture and more called “Venetian,” which was inspired by the Italian city’s grandiose Gothic architecture — the entire lot sold out on the day of its presentation. Besides Linley the brand being a commercial success, Linley the founder was somewhat of a marvel: At the time, the designer was the first of the royal family to undertake any sort of vocational work, let alone establish their own brand.
David Linley’s furniture has become known over the years for its fine craftsmanship, detailed marquetry and inlay and use of rare and exquisite woods. His tables, seating, other furnishings and decorative objects owe consistently to traditional methods and conventions as often as they do clean modernity. The designer has long looked to Chippendale furniture as well as other styles that gained prominence during the 18th century as much as he has toward the future.
Now, in addition to its furniture, accessories and custom millwork, Linley operates an interior design business, outfitting homes (and a few cars and yachts) in the brand’s singularly chic style. And while the company’s output is marked by style, craftsmanship still comes first: “I’m a maker, not a designer,” the earl once proclaimed.
Find a collection of David Linley furniture on 1stDibs.
David Linley Dice Armchairs in chocolate brown leather by LINLEY, London
By David Linley, LINLEY London
Located in Amsterdam, NL
Pair of Dice Armchairs designed by David Linley for LINLEY, London. Good original condition with slight traces of use, mainly on the wooden frames.
Leather, Wood
A Pair Of David Linley Chelsea Sunburst Table Lamps With Dimmer Switches
By David Linley
Located in Reading, Berkshire
An Elegant Matching Set Of Two Chelsea Sun Burst Side Table Lamps By Viscount David Linley. Both Lamps Are Engraved Linley And Come With Matching Shades. Dimmer Switches Attached To ...
Chrome
DAVID LINLEY BURR WALNUT CLASSIC PEDESTAL DESK FOR LiGHT RESTORATION
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning hand made in England Viscount David Linley Classic Pedestal desk RRP £25,500 Please note the ...
Walnut
$1,639Sale Price|20% Off
STUNNING BRAND NEW IN THE BOX ViSCOUNT DAVID LINLEY CUT GLASS CRYSTAL CAVIAR SET
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite brand new in the original box with the original packaging materials, Viscount David Linley Cu...
Crystal
$5,482Sale Price / set|20% Off
PAIR OFF EXQUISITE DAVID LINLEY CHELSEA FLOOR STANDING LAMPS CHROME FITTINGs
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this pair of super rare, vintage, now discontinued David Linley articulated, adjustable floor standing lamps...
Chrome
$8,400
Inlaid Center Table
By David Linley
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Unusual center table crafted in mahogany and walnut veneer with an octagon form top having a sunburst grain design with a floral border inlaid with Macassar ebony, satinwood, sycamor...
Burlap, Ebony, Sycamore, Walnut
$3,015Sale Price|20% Off
RARE VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY SATiNWOOD & BURR WALNUT CHESSBOARD & BACKGAMMON
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning original now discontinued Viscount David Linley Chessboard and Checkerboard compend...
Satinwood, Walnut
$43,862Sale Price|20% Off
8 PERSON DAVID LINLEY INLAID SPORTS DiNING TABLE FOOTBALL TENNIS ETC
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning perfect condition David Linley boardroom or dining table to seat eight people RRP £65,000+ Pl...
Wood
$115,825 / item
Riviera Rouge Desk
By David Linley
Located in London, GB
The Linley Riviera rouge desk is a unique desk with a high gloss finish featuring a Santos rosewood top and inlaid sycamore pinstripe inspired by yacht ...
Wood
$3,245Sale Price / set|20% Off
PAIR OF ViNTAGE DAVID LINLEY ADJUSTABLE TELESCOPIC FLOOR LAMPS ORIGINAL SHADEs
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this super rare pair of vintage, now discontinued David Linley articulated, adjustable floor standing lamps ...
Chrome
$8,772Sale Price|20% Off
EXQUISITE VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY TWO SEAT SOFA WiTH STAMPED CASTORS
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime Viscount David Linley large two seat sofa with Walnut Satinwood inlaid legs that are finished w...
Upholstery, Satinwood, Walnut
Classical Furniture by David Linley, 1st Edition
By David Linley
Located in valatie, NY
Classical Furniture by David Linley. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., Publishers, 1993. First edition hardcover with dust jacket. 192 pp. A book on classical furniture by the 2nd Ear...
Paper
$7,621Sale Price|20% Off
STUNNiNG VINTAGE 1994 DAVID LINLEY BURR WALNUT AMBOYNA WOOD LARGE CONSOLE TABLE
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning David Linley fully restored Burr Walnut and Amboyna wood console table RRP £15,000 ...
Walnut
$5,446Sale Price|20% Off
DAVIND LINLEY STYLE SATiNWOOD WALNUT & HARDWOOD LIBRARY BOOKCASE CUPBOARD BASe
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this exquisite hand made in England, Satinwood, Walnut & Rosewood library bookcase in the David Linley taste...
Glass, Hardwood, Satinwood, Walnut
$16,503Sale Price / set|20% Off
PAIR OF VERY LARGE 2.6 METER TALL BURR WALNUT DAVID LINLEY LIBRARY BOOKCASEs
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of very tall Viscount David Linley Burr Walnut library bookcases which are part of a suite Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price. These are as mentioned part of a large office suite, I have in total the rather stunning desk, leather desk chair, pair of tall library...
Walnut
SUBLIME ViSCOUNT DAVID LINLEY STERLING SILVER GENTLEMANS SHOOTING COMPENDIUM
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite, highly collectable Viscount David Linley Gentleman's Shooting Compendium with Edi...
Crystal, Sterling Silver
$5,482Sale Price|20% Off
Large Viscount David Linley Burr Walnut Satinwood & Sycamore Overmantle Mirror
By LINLEY London, David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer this absolutely exquisite original stamped Viscount David Linley overmantel wall mirror in Sycamore, burr walnut and satinwood The mirror truly is impres...
Satinwood, Sycamore, Walnut
Rare Custom One of a Kind Prototype Viscount David Linley Mirror 3D Affect Frame
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning one of a kind Viscount David Linley wall mirror A very good looking and well made piece, it was bought by my client by custom orde...
Mirror, Sycamore
$7,127Sale Price / set|20% Off
PAiR OF DAVID LINLEY CHELSEA SATINWOOD MACASSAR EBONY SIDEBOARD TV MEDIA UNIT
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite pair of Viscount David Linley Satinwood & Macassar Ebony sideboards designed to se...
Ebony, Satinwood
$4,331Sale Price|20% Off
VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY SYCAMORE WALNUT WiTH CHROME COFFEE TABLE
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime designer Viscount David Linley Walnut, Sycamore wood coffee table with polished chrome plaque. ...
Chrome
David Linley English Cherry Maple & Burr-ash Three Drawer Writing Desk
By David Linley
Located in Queens, NY
English Contemporary cherry, maple, and burr-ash writing desk having banded inlaid trim witth a diamond design top overthree drawers resting on tapere...
Maple
$16,441 / item
Rifle Bar Stool
By David Linley
Located in London, GB
Crafted in walnut, engineered brushed brass and polished aluminum, the rifle bar stool has an adjustable seat height making this ideal for your home ba...
Walnut
UNIQUE EXQUISITE VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY ROMAN LOOKiNG SYCAMORE CHEST OF DRAWERS
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite original Viscount David Linley very large chest of drawers custom made for Gary Ba...
Oak, Sycamore
$3,673Sale Price|20% Off
EXQUISITE DAVID LINLEY OSTRICH LEATHER SATiNWOOD HALL BENCH SEAT LUGGAGE RACK
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning Viscount David Linley Satinwood with Blue Ostrich leather upholstery top hall seat luggage stand Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote, please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price. This piece is absolutely sublime, made by Linley for the Connaught...
Leather, Satinwood
David Linley “Yoxford” Chesterfield 3-Seat Sofa in Brown Leather
By David Linley
Located in Barrowford, GB
This is a superb David Linley “Yoxford” 3-seat Modern-Chesterfield Sofa, dressed in a luxurious, top-grade Brown Leather and with Walnut detail. In a world of temporary pleasures,...
Leather
DAVID LINLEY FOR GARY BARLOW SYCAMORE DiNING TABLE ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR PAINTING
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning, original Viscount David Linley dining table with the original, very rare watercolo...
Sycamore
Double Body Cupboard by David Linley
By David Linley
Located in Brussels, BE
Double Body Cupboard by David Linley
Wood
SiGNED VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY ARCHITECTURAL PERSPECTIVE KEY SAFE WALL CABINET
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly collectable Viscount David Linley Architectural Perspective signed and stamped key...
Wood
PAIR OF VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY BURR WALNUT HEIGHT ADJUSTABLE TABLEs
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this pair of stunning original Viscount David Linley, Burr Walnut with Satinwood side end tables that are height adjustable and part of a large suite Please note the delivery fee listed is just a guide, it covers within the M25 only for the UK and local Europe only for international, if you would like an accurate quote please send me your postcode and I’ll provide you with the exact price These are as mentioned part of a large office suite, I have in total the rather stunning desk, leather desk chair, pair of tall library...
Satinwood, Walnut
$7,196Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Viscount David Linley Ivory White Leather Max Club Armchairs
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this sublime pair of viscount David Linley, Ivory white leather Max Club armchairs with walnut frames and mirrored feet ...
Chrome
Maple Marquetry Six-Panel Screen by David Linley
By David Linley
Located in NYC, NY
David Linley maple marquetry six-panel screen. Measures: 6 ft. 2 3/4 in. x 17 3/4 in. (each panel). By repute, the screen was gifted to the current owner directly from David Li...
Maple
VISCOUNT DAVID LINLEY CLASSIC COFEE TABLE FOR LiGHT RESTORATION
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime designer Viscount David Linley Walnut, Sycamore wood coffee table which needs some restoration ...
Sycamore, Walnut
$9,320Sale Price|20% Off
CUSTOM MADE VISCOUNT DAVID LiNLEY COFFEE TABLE POOL / SNOOKER TOP
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this sublime designer Viscount David Linley Walnut, Sycamore wood coffee table stamped Linley 1998 RRP £14,5...
Satinwood
$1,871Sale Price / set|30% Off
Pair of Viscount David Linley Sycamore Wood Pimlico Occasional Side Chairs
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning pair of original Sycamore wood Viscount David Linley side chairs A very good looking and well made pair of designer side chairs, t...
Sycamore
$7,676Sale Price / set|30% Off
Matching Pair of David Linley 1993 Stamped Burr Walnut Console Tables 2
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely stunning pair of David Linley burr walnut ebony and American black walnut console tables ...
Walnut
$8,155Sale Price|30% Off
David Linley Newlyn Sycamore Wood and Marble Hayrake Dining Table
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning perfect condition David Linley Newlyn collection solid sycamore wood with marble insert Hayrake Dining table RRP £14,500 A very good looking and well made table, the marble insert is great for resting very hot and cold plates on, as apposed to the timber it won’t mark. This table is based on the Hayrake tables...
Marble