David Linley Desks
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 Desks
Walnut
20th Century British Modern David Linley Desks
Maple
19th Century European Antique David Linley Desks
Walnut
Mid-19th Century English Victorian Antique David Linley Desks
Walnut
19th Century Chippendale Antique David Linley Desks
Mahogany
20th Century British David Linley Desks
Yew
Mid-20th Century English Art Deco David Linley Desks
Walnut
1920s English Arts and Crafts Vintage David Linley Desks
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary British Georgian David Linley Desks
Leather, Walnut, Burl
1880s Victorian Antique David Linley Desks
Walnut
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern David Linley Desks
Walnut
Late 19th Century English Antique David Linley Desks
Oak
21st Century and Contemporary British Georgian David Linley Desks
Leather, Walnut, Burl
Early 19th Century Asian Regency Antique David Linley Desks
Brass
20th Century English Victorian David Linley Desks
Walnut
20th Century English Modern David Linley Desks
Birch
