Maitland-Smith

For nearly five decades, Maitland-Smith has been dedicated to the artful pursuit of the uncommon. It all began with our late founder, Paul Maitland-Smith, a curious and inventive spirit who saw furniture in a remarkably different way. Always looking beyond convention, ever striving for some new look or technique, Paul drew inspiration from antiques, travel, history, and the extraordinary abilities of talented craftspeople around the world. He created objects with wit, character, and a sense of discovery, and in doing so, built a company unlike any other. He truly changed the way we see and shape and style our homes.

That creative spirit lives on in every piece we create. Renowned for specialties including hand-carved tropical mahogany, meticulously inlaid exotic wood veneers, lost-wax cast metalwork, and traditional vegetable-tanned, hand-tooled leather, Maitland-Smith reflects a commitment to artistry rarely found in modern manufacturing. Drawing inspiration from the great decorative traditions of the 18th, 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries, our collections bridge history and innovation, blending classical influences with a distinctly contemporary perspective. The result is a world of furnishings and objects that feel collected rather than decorated—rich in character, craftsmanship, and story.
Maitland-Smith

Today, as part of Rock House Farm Designer Brands, Maitland-Smith carries Paul’s legacy forward, guided  by a single question: What would Paul do? Not simply what he would have done, but what he would do today. What materials would he seek out? What traditions and themes would he interpret? What unexpected object would make him stop, smile, and imagine something entirely new? Paul’s curiosity and passion for craft informs the products we create, the craftspeople we work with, and the celebrated design partnerships we cultivate with innovative taste makers like Corey Damen Jenkins, Celerie Kemble, Susan Hable Smith, and Tony Duquette Studios’ president Hutton Wilkinson.

More than a company, more than a brand, fifty years after its founding, Maitland-Smith is a legacy of furnishings and objects designed and crafted for those who collect well—and are well collected.
Maitland-Smith

Craftsmanship

At Maitland-Smith, craftsmanship is more than a process—it is the foundation of everything we create. For nearly five decades, our artisans have preserved time-honored techniques that transform exceptional materials into furnishings and decorative objects of enduring beauty and character.

From hand-carved tropical mahogany and meticulously inlaid exotic wood veneers to lost-wax cast metalwork and traditional vegetable-tanned, hand-tooled leather, each piece reflects a dedication to artistry that cannot be replicated by automation alone. Many of our creations require hours of skilled handwork, with techniques passed from one generation of craftspeople to the next.

Our makers draw upon decorative traditions spanning the 18th through 21st centuries, blending historic craftsmanship with contemporary design. The result is a collection of furnishings and objects that feel collected rather than manufactured—each bearing the subtle nuances and individuality that define true artisan work.

Whether shaping wood, casting metal, applying hand-finished surfaces, or executing intricate decorative details, our craftsmen approach every piece with the same guiding principle: to create objects worthy of becoming part of a well-collected life.

Exotic Shell Inlay

The use of exotic seashells has a long history in the decorative arts. Many have strong visual appeal, are durable and can be cut and polished.

The shell’s durability lends itself to veneered surfaces and inlaid accents. The wide variety of types available provides a stimulus to creativity and innovation.

At Maitland-Smith we use a variety of shells in traditional and innovative ways. As a complete veneer covering an entire object, either solid or fashioned into patterns, it is labor-intensive with each piece cut, fitted and hand polished. Our artisans have over 30 years experience working with exotic shells and related skills. As a design leader, Maitland-Smith was the first to offer young penshell as a translucent material for lamp shades and other lighting forms. We developed a method of inlaying translucent young crackled penshell onto molded berglass forms creating a new use for a beautiful natural material.

Marquetry & Parquetry

As highly regarded traditional furniture crafts, these handcrafted inlay processes began in Germany and Holland.

In the hands of a trained artisan, shaped veneered wood or other suitable material is applied to a furniture frame, forming a mosaic-like pattern or image on the surface.

Marquetry may be floral, or an arabesque, but it must be curvilinear. If the pattern is geometric, it is called parquetry. Both are traditional decorative techniques which add intrinsic value to fine furniture. By the 17th century marquetry in particular reached new heights of skill and innovation, and was prized by patrons of the era. The use of the process was further advanced by the importation of rare and exotic woods from around the world, unique to Western Europe.

Lost Wax Casting

From its inception, the technique of lost wax casting has remained the preferred process of jewelers, sculptors and artisans. The process was developed by the Greeks and Romans and has remained in use since its beginning. The many-step technique begins with a finely carved wax model. This wax model is then surrounded by a special form of concrete which is extremely fine in consistency. This allows the concrete to capture all the detail of the original wax version.

As the concrete dries, two different holes are carved into the material to facilitate casting. The mold is then allowed to harden and cure.

The concrete mold is then filled with molten metal, which in turn melts the original wax model which drains away using a narrow exit hole. When the mold cools, it is broken open to reveal a finely cast metal object which was once wax. It is at this point a hand applied finish is added. Among our most popular finishes are verdigris, aged brass, dark bronze and burnished bronze. All Maitland-Smith castings are molded in brass and other fine metals.

Hand Painting

Our artisans continue the skills of the 17th and 18th century’s ateliers. Hand painting is undeniably among these traditional crafts. Unlike machine aided copies or replicas, original work like hand painting is regarded as a unique expression of an artisan and of greater value. The talented artisans in our ateliers possess the painting skills of their 18th–century counterparts. Attributes like attention to detail and eye-hand coordination are key. Technical virtuosity is the personal signature of the artist. An expertly handled brush can make techniques like dry-brushing, color blending and feathering seem effortless and original.

Hand-Carved Wood

Perhaps the most demanding skill in the rich tradition of craftsmanship is hand carving. Archeologists can date early surviving examples over three thousand years old. Fantastic wooden objects have been uncovered in Egyptian tombs alongside jewel encrusted gold and silver artifacts. Other examples date from the Middle Ages, primarily ecclesiastical figures.

The Renaissance was the setting for the reawakening of the decorative arts. Specialized guilds of artisans were formed to advance and protect particular skills. Carvers guilds arose throughout Europe alongside goldsmiths, jewelers and other similar trades.

The richly ornamental styles of the 17th and 18th centuries are a testament to the caliber of craftsmanship available. Our carvers use the same tools and techniques as their 18th-century counterparts. After years of training, their skills are applied to a wide variety of Maitland-Smith items. Examples include our hand carved mahogany dining chairs, occasional chairs, mirror frames and numerous decorative objects.