David Linley Furniture
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.
1990s Hollywood Regency David Linley Furniture
Brass
20th Century English Art Deco David Linley Furniture
Amboyna
20th Century English Country David Linley Furniture
Satinwood, Walnut
20th Century English British Colonial David Linley Furniture
Burlap, Ebony, Sycamore, Walnut
20th Century English Country David Linley Furniture
Sycamore
20th Century English Art Deco David Linley Furniture
Chrome
20th Century British Modern David Linley Furniture
Satinwood, Sycamore, Walnut
20th Century English Art Deco David Linley Furniture
Sycamore, Walnut
1990s British Modern David Linley Furniture
Maple
20th Century English Post-Modern David Linley Furniture
Walnut
2010s British David Linley Furniture
Walnut
20th Century American David Linley Furniture
Paper
2010s British David Linley Furniture
Wood
21st Century and Contemporary English Modern David Linley Furniture
Mirror, Sycamore
2010s British David Linley Furniture
Nickel
1990s English Modern David Linley Furniture
Walnut
20th Century English Modern David Linley Furniture
Marble
1890s English Neoclassical Antique David Linley Furniture
Sterling Silver
1950s American Neoclassical Vintage David Linley Furniture
Sterling Silver
Early 18th Century Swedish Antique David Linley Furniture
Upholstery, Wood
1950s French Louis XV Vintage David Linley Furniture
Walnut
Early 1900s American Neoclassical Antique David Linley Furniture
Sterling Silver
Late 20th Century David Linley Furniture
Leather
Late 20th Century British Chesterfield David Linley Furniture
Leather
Mid-20th Century European Neoclassical David Linley Furniture
Marble, Brass
20th Century Dutch David Linley Furniture
Leather, Wood
1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Vintage David Linley Furniture
Rosewood
Mid-19th Century French Napoleon III Antique David Linley Furniture
Brass, Bronze
21st Century and Contemporary Italian David Linley Furniture
Steel
20th Century English Victorian David Linley Furniture
Walnut
20th Century British Art Deco David Linley Furniture
Upholstery, Hardwood
2010s British David Linley Furniture
Sycamore
20th Century British Neoclassical David Linley Furniture
Marble
1990s Asian Regency David Linley Furniture
Paper
20th Century English Modern David Linley Furniture
Birch
20th Century English Modern David Linley Furniture
Walnut
20th Century English Modern David Linley Furniture
Silver Plate
20th Century English Modern David Linley Furniture
Marble
1990s English Modern David Linley Furniture
Sycamore, Walnut
20th Century English Modern David Linley Furniture
Leather, Walnut
1990s European Empire David Linley Furniture
David Linley furniture for sale on 1stDibs
- Who owns Linley furniture?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022David Linley, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, owns Linley furniture as of January 2022. He founded the luxury furniture maker in 1985. Its headquarters is in London, UK. Shop a range of Linley furniture from some of the world’s top sellers on 1stDibs.