Vintage Maitland-Smith Furniture & Decor

Maitland-Smith was founded in 1979 by Paul Maitland-Smith, a London antiques dealer, who established the company in Hong Kong to manufacture finely carved 18th-century English furniture. Drawing on his connoisseur’s eye for period antiques, Maitland-Smith built its reputation by reproducing the appearance and quality of historic originals while gradually expanding into original designs that incorporated materials and techniques from across Asia and Europe. The company’s early output centered on hand-carved casegoods and occasional tables, but it soon broadened to encompass decorative accessories, lighting, and accent furniture.

What distinguishes confirmed Maitland-Smith pieces is the range of materials and handcraft techniques the company employs. Inlaid marquetry surfaces, tessellated stone compositions, pen shell and egg shell veneers, hand-painted finishes, and cast metalwork all appear across the company’s production. Ceramic and porcelain pieces — vases, plates, and decorative objects — extend the vocabulary into tabletop and accessories. Brass and bronze candlesticks, lamps, and brackets demonstrate the company’s metal casting capabilities. Leather-wrapped boxes and screens show a facility with upholstery and hand-tooled surfaces. The breadth of materials means that Maitland-Smith pieces span traditional, Regency, Asian-inspired, and bohemian aesthetics.

The confirmed inventory at Show Pony Palm Beach reflects this material diversity. Inlay coffee tables and side tables feature stone or brass inlay set into wood frames, showcasing the marquetry work for which Maitland-Smith is known. Console tables with silver-leaf or koi-motif surfaces demonstrate the company’s decorative finishing techniques. Glazed ceramic vases with cobalt-blue koi and lotus motifs represent the porcelain output. Brass and chrome candlesticks, silver-leaf plates, and bronze altar candles show the range of cast metalwork. Patinated fleur-de-lis lamps and nailhead leather screens round out the collection, each piece carrying the construction quality and material richness that defines genuine Maitland-Smith production.

For collectors, condition assessment centers on the integrity of inlay work, the stability of any stone or shell elements, and the condition of hand-painted or silver-leaf finishes. Inlay pieces should be checked for loose or missing tiles; stone surfaces may show minor chips along edges consistent with age. Ceramic and porcelain items should be inspected for hairline cracks or restoration. Metal pieces may show expected patina or tarnish that some collectors prize. Leather elements should be evaluated for suppleness and surface wear. Labels or stamps bearing the Maitland-Smith name help confirm authenticity, though labeling practices varied across the company’s production history.

Buyers should distinguish between confirmed Maitland-Smith productions and pieces that merely reference or are inspired by Maitland-Smith designs. Qualified attributions such as “After Maitland-Smith” or “In the Style of Maitland-Smith” indicate that a piece is not a confirmed Maitland-Smith production and should be evaluated on its own merits. Pieces described as “Styled After Maitland-Smith” or “Maitland-Smith-inspired” share design language but lack confirmed provenance. The strict attribution filtering applied to this collection ensures that every piece shown has been verified as a genuine Maitland-Smith production.

At Show Pony Palm Beach, we curate confirmed Maitland-Smith furniture and decor, each piece inspected for construction quality, material integrity, and authentic attribution. Our West Palm Beach showroom at 1400 Elizabeth Ave welcomes visitors to experience these pieces in person, and nationwide delivery is available to all 50 states.