David Linley Benches
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.
20th Century English Art Deco David Linley Benches
Leather, Satinwood
Late 20th Century European Gothic Revival David Linley Benches
Oak
Late 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Antique David Linley Benches
Upholstery, Mahogany
19th Century English William IV Antique David Linley Benches
Mahogany
1890s Arts and Crafts Antique David Linley Benches
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary Vietnamese Regency David Linley Benches
Mahogany
Early 20th Century David Linley Benches
Oak
Late 18th Century British George III Antique David Linley Benches
Mahogany
Late 19th Century Victorian Antique David Linley Benches
Oak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern David Linley Benches
Ostrich Leather
Early 20th Century English David Linley Benches
Oak, Plywood
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern David Linley Benches
Wrought Iron
Late 19th Century British Aesthetic Movement Antique David Linley Benches
Oak
