David Linley Bookcases
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 Victorian David Linley Bookcases
Walnut
Mid-20th Century English Mid-Century Modern David Linley Bookcases
Glass, Hardwood, Satinwood, Walnut
1950s English Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Linley Bookcases
Oak, Plywood
19th Century English Neoclassical Antique David Linley Bookcases
Satinwood, Paint
19th Century Scottish Antique David Linley Bookcases
Oak, Pine
Late 20th Century Sheraton David Linley Bookcases
Satinwood, Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Antique David Linley Bookcases
Oak
19th Century English Victorian Antique David Linley Bookcases
Oak
1880s British Late Victorian Antique David Linley Bookcases
Glass, Walnut
Late 18th Century Italian Neoclassical Antique David Linley Bookcases
Walnut
20th Century American Neoclassical David Linley Bookcases
Brass
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Linley Bookcases
Walnut
Mid-19th Century French Antique David Linley Bookcases
Ebony, Oak, Walnut
1960s Mid-Century Modern Vintage David Linley Bookcases
Walnut
