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.
1970s David Linley Writing Desk in Cherry, Maple & Burr-Ash
By David Linley
Located in Queens, NY
English Contemporary cherry, maple, and burr-ash writing desk having banded inlaid trim witth a diamond design top overthree drawers resting on tapere...
Maple
$10,916Sale Price|20% Off
DAVID LINLEY BURR WALNUT CLASSIC PEDESTAL DESK FOR LiGHT RESTORATION
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this stunning hand made in England Viscount David Linley Classic Pedestal desk RRP £25,500 Please note the ...
Walnut
Very Fine English Walnut and Ebony Pedestal Desk by David Linley
By David Linley
Located in Shippensburg, PA
DAVID LINLEY United Kingdom, b. 1961 Blonde Walnut Green-Leather Double Pedestal Writing Desk A custom design Walnut veneers, ebony inlay and knobs, oak secondary woods, green leat...
Leather, Ebony, Oak, Walnut
$7,095Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 35.04 in W 45.48 in D 22.84 in
PAiR OF DAVID LINLEY CHELSEA SATINWOOD MACASSAR EBONY SIDEBOARD TV MEDIA UNIT
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite pair of Viscount David Linley Satinwood & Macassar Ebony sideboards designed to se...
Ebony, Satinwood
$3,220Sale Price|20% Off
H 29.53 in W 54.34 in D 26.78 in
Extending Writing Table Desk, Burr Yew Wood Brown Leather Gold Leaf Embossed Top
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning Burr yew wood writing table or desk with extending, gold leaf embossed brown leather top A good look...
Leather, Yew
Desk in oak, 1970s
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Large desk in oak, rectangular in shape. Black tray standing on two boxes with two drawers, opening with circular and semi-circular shaped handles. Keys. French work realized in the...
Oak
English Mahogany Pedestal Desk
Located in Woodbury, CT
This Georgian styled desk with raised panel sides and three-piece leather top with gilded tooling is generously sized without being overly dramatic. At 60” by 36”, there is enough su...
Leather, Mahogany
$1,905Sale Price|30% Off
H 33.47 in W 22.05 in D 22.45 in
Victorian Burr Walnut Davenport Writing Table Desk - C. 1870
Located in Wisbech, England
Presenting an exquisite Victorian Burr and Figured Walnut Davenport Writing Table Desk dating back to approximately 1870. This charming piece exudes age and character, making it a ra...
Walnut
Unavailable|$6,000
H 30.25 in W 78.25 in D 36 in
1970s Jens Risom Design Executive Desk in Walnut with Three Drawers
By Jens Risom
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is an Executive Desk in Walnut, designed by Jens Risom in the 1960s. Produced by Risom Design Inc. this example dates to the 1970s. It features several drawers which provide amp...
Brass
Art Deco Revival Wooden Writing Desk, Italy, 1970s
Located in Antwerp, BE
Italian Art Deco Revival writing desk dating to the 1970s, characterised by its elongated proportions, chamfered corners and richly grained wood finish. The rectangular top is suppor...
Wood
Italian 1970's Mahogany Neoclassical Style Writing Desk
Located in New York, NY
An Italian 1970's mahogany Neoclassical manner desk, the tapered columnar metal legs support a rectangular working surface of taupe colored leather, with two drawers on either side a...
Metal
English Walnut Pedestal Desk
Located in Woodbury, CT
A three-piece, tan leather surface with tooling and gilding is the starting point for this three part pedestal desk in walnut burl. Classic touches abound in the appearance and const...
Leather, Walnut
Antique English Double Pedestal Leather Top Desk
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Impressive 19th century English desk with the original tooled ox blood leather top on a case with three drawers supported by two pedestals with three drawers each on classic block fe...
Brass
Modern Architect's Writing Desk
Located in Nyack, NY
Clean architectural lines and precision craftsmanship define the Modern Architects Desk. The essence of the Modern Architects Writing Desk's design is rooted in the inherent elegance...
Ash, Walnut
$40,254
H 28.75 in W 54.34 in D 28.35 in
George Nakashima, Pedestal Desk, American Black Walnut, 1956, with paperwork
By George Nakashima
Located in Wargrave, Berkshire
GEORGE NAKASHIMA (1905-1990) Single Pedestal Desk Nakashima Studio, USA 1956 American black walnut rectangular slab top with two free edges, bank of three drawers and two turned legs...
Black Walnut
19th Century English Victorian Burr Walnut Pedestal Desk
Located in Chelmsford, Essex
For sale is a good quality 19th century Victorian burr walnut pedestal desk. The desk top is inset with a leather skiver, decorated with gold tooling. Below this three drawers, each ...
Walnut
Vintage Walnut Single Pedestal Desk by Stow Davis
By Stow Davis
Located in Pasadena, TX
This piece has three drawers, one of which is a filing drawer. A very distinctive desk with unique capped off point stainless steel legs.
Chrome
$5,997
H 32.68 in W 22.64 in D 21.86 in
Antique Victorian Burr Walnut Floral Marquetry Piano Top Davenport Desk
Located in Suffolk, GB
An outstanding quality antique Victorian burr walnut floral marquetry piano top Davenport desk having exquisite inlaid decoration throughout. ...
Walnut
Sold
H 28.94 in W 62.21 in D 28.55 in
Stunning David Linley Burr & Burl Walnut & Satin Wood Kidney Desk Writing Table
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this absolutely exquisite burr & burl walnut & satinwood kidney shaped writing table desk by David Linley This piece is solid burr walnut with s...
Walnut
Sold
H 26.38 in W 48.04 in D 30.71 in
Prototype Viscount David Linley Folding Desk and Chair in Satin Birch Art Modern
By David Linley
Located in West Sussex, Pulborough
We are delighted to offer for sale this stunning original prototype folding desk and chair from David Linley A very good looking and well made desk, in birch, very much the Art Mo...
Birch