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.
$64,914
Riviera Games Table
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Crafted from high-gloss blue-stained eucalyptus, this remarkable piece seamlessly combines the thrill of two timeless board games with impeccable craftsmanship. The table's lustrous...
Oak
Contemporary World Map Center Table in Walnut with High Gloss Finish
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
The unique Linley World Map table is hand-crafted by our specialist craftsmen in the UK using over 40 individually selected veneers. The main body of the table is created out of stained Fulbeck walnut in a high gloss finish. The base features elegant nickel stringing. The table’s inlay is a combination of ripple sycamore...
Nickel
Parsons Style Vanucci Games Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A Vintage Games Table with rich mixed wood veneers and inlaid Chrome accents. . On four angle cut legs, the square top with four drawers, one on ea...
Metal, Other
Louis XV Style Games Table
Located in Beaune, FR
Elegant games table in solid cherry and veneer with Louis XV style marquetry games. This table has 2 double-sided game boards: Queen game and Chess game. Around 1850. Dimensions ...
Cherry
English Walnut Games Table
Located in Hudson, NY
English walnut games table, pedestal style small table with games board underneath a glass top.
Walnut
George III Satinwood Games Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
George III Satinwood and Rosewood D shaped games table, circa 1800. With an inset satinwood top with rosewood outer banding, an inlaid frieze, inlaid square tapered legs, a green fel...
Rosewood, Satinwood
$5,446
H 31.5 in W 24.61 in D 24.22 in
ANTIQUE 19TH CENTURY WALNUT CHESSBOARD BACKGAMMON GAMES TRiC TRAC GAMES TABLE
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this rare and important original Circa 1830 to 1840 English Walnut Tri Trac Extending games table Please no...
Baize, Walnut
William IV Mahogany Games Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
William IV mahogany games table, circa 1830. With a D shaped folding mahogany top, a frieze with scroll and leaf form designed ends, a ring turned and bulbous shaped pedestal, restin...
Mahogany
Louis XVI Style Games Table
Located in Laguna Beach, CA
Louis XVI style tulip wood, birch and king wood fold over games table, circa 1930's. The top with a central star inlay, aprons with tulip wood panels framed with birch string inlay s...
Felt, Birch, Kingwood, Tulipwood
George III Mahogany Games Table
Located in Kittery Point, ME
The rectangular hinged top with a rosette-carved edge, on a blind fretwork frieze and pierced brackets, raised on molded square legs.
Mahogany
English Edwardian Folding Games Table
Located in Hudson, NY
This fine and unusual games table is of rare form, circa 1900 and 1910, is made of mahogany and deal secondaries. The brass fittings have all been chrome-plated, a feature usually re...
Mahogany
Antique English Pembroke Games Table
Located in Bridgeport, CT
A very well made and well sized Antique English Games Table with banding and a dove-tail construction single drawer. The center top section slides to reveal an inlaid Backgammon boar...
Ebony, Mahogany, Satinwood
Swedish Empire Center Table
Located in Essex, MA
Circular top with wood edge surrounding a geometric mosaic of hard stones raised on a triangular tapered column and tripartite base with gilded scroll feet. From the estate of Willia...
Marble
Chinoiserie Games Table
Located in Atlanta, GA
Chinoiserie Lacquered and Parcel Gilt Game Table, probably Chinese, at least circa 1940s, possibly much earlier. Retains warm original patina. It is a versatile size and can be used ...
Wood
David Linley Walnut Folding Butlers Tray Tea Table
By LINLEY London
Located in Norwich, England
A David Linley English walnut "butler's" tray, standing on a folding stand. Stamped twice "Linley." Circa 1990's. Made in solid walnut, it has a veneered burr figured book match w...
Walnut, Burl
Slimline Odyssey Desk
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Inspired by the curves of our Odyssey Desk, The Slimline Odyssey desk is handcrafted from grey figured anegre. The desk has polished brass metalwork and a...
Brass
Hexagonal Gueridon Designed by David Linley in 1991
By LINLEY London, David Linley
Located in Brussels, BE
Hexagonal gueridon designed by David Linley in 1991.
Glass, Oak
Contemporary Fulbeck Writing Table or Desk in Walnut with Brass
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
A departure from the traditional pedestal desks for which Linley was once renowned, the Fulbeck desk is designed for a contemporary office environment and collaborative form of working. It blends traditional and digital luxury, with cleverly incorporated charging points and battery cells so that the desk can be ‘charged’ via a power source and then used free-standing during meetings. The form of the desk is light and fluid, with the body appearing to hover over the finely-crafted legs. Its smooth underbelly follows the gentle curve of a stock of a shotgun and facilitates space for internal storage and three secret drawers which are lined in claret Connolly Vaumol leather. Subtle checkering detailing on the end of the desk’s body and legs references the finishing touches in gun making and is tactile to the touch. The Fulbeck Desk was created using English walnut sourced exclusively from the Fulbeck Estate in Lincolnshire. Recorded as the third largest walnut in the country, it was estimated to be between three and four hundred years old before it was blown down in the great storm of 2007. The LINLEY designers carefully hand-selected each piece of veneer to best display the beautiful ripple grain in the wood. Running down the centre of the desk is a striking brushed brass plate, intricately hand-engraved by Dr Malcolm Appleby...
Brass
Odyssey Desk, Blue
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
The stunning Odyssey desk is created in elegant hand dyed blue eucalyptus and grey pama finished with bespoke broze handles wrapped in navy leather and a ...
Bronze
Writing Desk Designed by David Linley in 1991
By David Linley, LINLEY London
Located in Brussels, BE
Writing desk designed by David Linley in 1991.
Oak
Odyssey Desk
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
The stunning Odyssey desk is created in elegant hand dyed grey figured anigre and finished with bespoke nickel handles wrapped in black leather and a blac...
Nickel
Piano Black and Gold Gilded Desk and Throne
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
A privately commissioned desk and throne for a gold and monochrome project now available for general sale due to surplus of requirement. Handcrafted in ebonised walnut and gold, the drawers supply plentiful storage space and are each framed with golden stringing, as is the desk’s black leather writing pad. One of the desk’s pedestals contains a secret drawer, accompanying it is a grand matching throne...
Gold
Odyssey Desk
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Created in elegant hand dyed grey figured Anigre the desk is finished with bespoke nickel handles wrapped in black leather and a black leather writing surface. Rather than placed aga...
Nickel
Lightscape Dusk Bar
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
‘Lightscape’ is completed by a spectacular drinks console that depicts a city building at night. The sun has set and the building is now transformed by ...
Silver Leaf
Helix Dining Table Fumed Eucalyptus
By LINLEY London
Located in London, GB
Made of fumed eucalyptus, the contemporary design of the Helix collection makes an elegant, modern dining suite that will be a focal point of your din...