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| Viscount David Linley Brings Furniture Center Stage by Karen Jones |
The nephew of Queen Elizabeth II discusses design essentials and his new book,
“Star Pieces: The Enduring Beauty of Spectacular Furniture.”
It seemed predestined that Viscount David Linley would excel as a designer. His father, Lord
Snowdon is a renowned photographer while his mother, the late Princess Margaret, pursued
her passion and talent for music and the arts. “They encouraged me right from the earliest
days,” Viscount Linley tells Realeluxury.com. “I got inspiration from my parents and both
grandmothers—they were avid collectors.”
His new book, “Star Pieces: The Enduring Beauty of Spectacular Furniture,” with co-authors
Helen Chislett and Charles Cator, explores the beauty, history and majesty of furniture as an
art form. “We put together a nice coffee table book to illustrate to a new generation the
importance of looking at furniture and its history--where it has come from and where it is
going. We are trying to get the focus back onto furniture as sculpture.”
“Star Pieces: The Enduring Beauty of Spectacular Furniture.”
It seemed predestined that Viscount David Linley would excel as a designer. His father, Lord
Snowdon is a renowned photographer while his mother, the late Princess Margaret, pursued
her passion and talent for music and the arts. “They encouraged me right from the earliest
days,” Viscount Linley tells Realeluxury.com. “I got inspiration from my parents and both
grandmothers—they were avid collectors.”
His new book, “Star Pieces: The Enduring Beauty of Spectacular Furniture,” with co-authors
Helen Chislett and Charles Cator, explores the beauty, history and majesty of furniture as an
art form. “We put together a nice coffee table book to illustrate to a new generation the
importance of looking at furniture and its history--where it has come from and where it is
going. We are trying to get the focus back onto furniture as sculpture.”
It was while attending Bedales School,
which emphasizes the arts, that Viscount
Linley discovered his enthusiasm for wood
working. After completing his training at
Parnham House, one of his first designs
was a gift for his grandmother, the late
Queen Mother. He founded his furniture
design firm, now simply called
DAVIDLINLEY, in 1985. A prestigious luxury
brand, clients include Oprah Winfrey,
Carolina Herrera, Jo Malone, Peter
Marino and more. “We provide design,
craftsmanship and service all at the same
time,” says Viscount Linley, who also
serves as Chairman of Christies UK auction
house.CHRISTIES
“Star Pieces” features twenty golden
ages of furniture from the Ming in China
and Italian and French Baroque to
Chippendale, Shaker and Art Deco.
which emphasizes the arts, that Viscount
Linley discovered his enthusiasm for wood
working. After completing his training at
Parnham House, one of his first designs
was a gift for his grandmother, the late
Queen Mother. He founded his furniture
design firm, now simply called
DAVIDLINLEY, in 1985. A prestigious luxury
brand, clients include Oprah Winfrey,
Carolina Herrera, Jo Malone, Peter
Marino and more. “We provide design,
craftsmanship and service all at the same
time,” says Viscount Linley, who also
serves as Chairman of Christies UK auction
house.CHRISTIES
“Star Pieces” features twenty golden
ages of furniture from the Ming in China
and Italian and French Baroque to
Chippendale, Shaker and Art Deco.
Co-author Helen Chislett tells Realeluxury.com
that the book provides numerous tips how to
use furniture in an overall interior design
scheme plus historical information accessible
for all levels of enthusiasts. She adds that it
also explores the esthetic pleasure of furniture.
“A ‘Star Piece’ is that piece of furniture that
has something a bit wow to it. It’s the
extravert in the room. Maybe you bought it
for scale, or because of its age but there was
some quality that really makes it stand out.”
Meanwhile, Viscount Linley offers advice to
young furniture designers just starting out. “It’s
a tough profession. You are offering somebody
something they cannot see. It’s in your mind.”
He emphasizes that the “service element” is
key and no matter what challenges are
inherent in the project, “make what you do
resonate. Give it something that has real
quality and will last for the long term.”
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