Consider it the ultimate royal seal of approval: When the young LINLEY founder, David Linley (b. 1961), 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 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.
LINLEY has become known over the years for its fine craftsmanship, detailed marquetry and inlay and use of rare and exquisite woods. Its case pieces, 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 its output is marked by style, craftsmanship still comes first: “I’m a maker, not a designer,” the earl once proclaimed.
Find a collection of LINLEY furniture on 1stDibs.
Contemporary Rifle Chair in Walnut and Brushed Brass and Polished Aluminum
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Complementing the Fulbeck desk is the elegant rifle chair. Crafted in walnut, engineered brushed brass and polished aluminium, the curved seat rest of the ...
Aluminum, Brass
$3,112
H 34.26 in W 26.78 in D 19.69 in
Renaissance Revival Savonarola Chair in Carved Walnut Restored and Wax Polished
By Michele Bonciani
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Renaissance Savonarola chair in carved walnut restored and wax polished. Attributable : Fratelli Bonciani – Cascina. About: Savonarola chair The term derives from the chair on...
Walnut
$2,294 / item
H 27.96 in W 21.26 in D 27.56 in
Contemporary Easy Chair in Walnut Wood and Handmade Textile
By Laura Noriega
Located in Guadalajara, Jal.
The “Your Skin” easy chair is a comfortable low chair with a solid and light structure perfect to accentuate with its impeccable and minimal aesthetics the decoration in every room o...
Wood
$4,043 / item
H 35.44 in W 24.41 in D 23.63 in
Lunar Chair in Cream Boucle Wool Fabric and Brushed Brass, by Lara Bohinc
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
With Lunar chair, Lara Bohinc develops her stellar themes, finding inspiration in planetary and lunar orbits, whose gravitationally curved trajectories dri...
Brass
$2,358 / item
H 29.93 in W 24.81 in D 22.05 in
Palmer Chair In Black Stained Oak And Brushed Brass By Elbra Home
Located in Freamunde, PT
The Palmer Chair is the epitome of refined elegance, designed to elevate any dining experience. Available in both armchair and side chair variations, it seamlessly blends luxury, com...
Metal, Brass, Stainless Steel
$5,380 / item
H 22.84 in W 29.53 in D 29.53 in
"Monobloco'' Contemporary Sculptural Chair in Cast Aluminum by Estudio Orth
By Estúdio Orth
Located in Sao Paulo, BR
Contemporary chair in cast aluminum. Produced in São Paulo, Brazil. This chair was meticulously handmade by master artisans one delicate piece at a time. It is therefore quite diffi...
Aluminum
$2,382 / item
H 31.11 in W 21.26 in D 20.87 in
Needle Armchair or Chair in Polished Aluminium or with Polished Brass
Located in Paris, FR
Armchair Needle in polished aluminium with armrests, L 54 x D 53 x H 79cm, price: 1850,00€. Also available without armrests, L 53 x D 47 x H 79cm, price: 1550,00€. Also available wit...
Metal, Aluminum, Brass
Natural Canvas and Polished Brass Chair
By Stephen Kenn
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Natural canvas cushion covers, natural cotton webbing, vegetable tanned leather, and polished brass buckles, atop a polished brass chair frame. ...
Steel
$4,043 / item
H 34.65 in W 31.5 in D 21.66 in
Lara Bohinc, Orbit Chair, Brushed Brass and Blue Wool Fabric
By Lara Bohinc
Located in Holland, AMSTERDAM
This is the first time that Bohinc explores a design favourite; the chair. In the collection, Lara Bohinc develops her stellar themes, finding inspiration in planetary and lunar orbits, whose gravitationally curved trajectories drive the lines and shapes of the chairs. Constructed from thin square rod, the chairs are elegant, minimal and delicate. They are finished in galvanised steel and wool fabrics by Kvadrat. The orbit chair...
Metal
Contemporary Chair 'H' Made of Concrete and Aluminum
By Bentu Design
Located in Paris, IDF
'H' is a made of concrete and aluminium by Bentu Design Dimensions: H76cm x 55 x 58 cm Bentu Design's furniture derives its uniqueness from the simplicity of its forms and its mat...
Concrete, Aluminum
$3,590 / item
H 34.06 in W 24.02 in D 22.05 in
Strelitzia Modern Solid Silver Polished Aluminum and Boucle Luxury Dining Chair
By Egg Designs
Located in Bothas Hill, KZN
The Silver Strelitzia handcrafted, modern dining chair is designed by Egg Designs and manufactured in South Africa. This luxury dining chair ha...
Aluminum
$60,000 / set
H 34 in W 19 in D 24 in
Vladimir Kagan Set of 6 Brushed Aluminum Dining Chairs in New Beige Shearling
By Kagan-Dreyfuss, Inc., Vladimir Kagan
Located in Saint Louis, MO
Act fast on this set of six Vladimir Kagan dining chairs newly professionally upholstered in hand sewn beige shearling with clean and modern brushed aluminum frames. When neither sty...
Chrome
$900 / item
H 43 in W 27 in D 27 in
2012 Vitra Meda Desk Chair in Black Leather & Polished Aluminum by Alberto Meda
By Alberto Meda, Vitra
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale are multiple (sold separately) Vitra Meda black leather desk chairs, designed by Alberto Meda. The chairs feature clean leather in very nice...
Aluminum
Sold
H 32.09 in W 21.66 in D 21.66 in
Contemporary Rifle Chair in Walnut and Brushed Brass and Polished Aluminum
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Complementing the Fulbeck desk is the elegant rifle chair. Crafted in walnut, engineered brushed brass and polished aluminium, the curved seat rest of the ...
Aluminum, Brass
Silhouette Chair
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Winner of Design et al International Product Design Awards 2015. Organic and functional, the Silhouette chair is strikingly crafted from a single c...
Copper