Mark Boddington, founder of Silverlining Furniture, has been appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King's Birthday Honours 2026 for services to design and innovation in furniture making.
The honour recognises Boddington’s contribution to British furniture design and making, and his role in advancing modern craftsmanship, material innovation and technology in contemporary furniture.
Over the past 40 years, Boddington has built Silverlining into one of Britain’s leading furniture makers. Based in North Wales, Silverlining employs 62 designers, engineers, and makers producing bespoke commissions of considerable complexity alongside limited-edition pieces developed through Studio SL, its in-house design practice.
Boddington trained at Parnham College under John Makepeace OBE, an education that instilled a craft rigour he has since extended well beyond its traditional boundaries.
The company invests £500,000 annually in research and development, with recent work spanning lightfast natural finishes, antibacterial cork materials, sustainable leather alternatives and finishes created from waste materials. Boddington has also taken on the preservation of specialist craft skills at risk of disappearing: urushi lacquer, Damascus steel, guilloché (engine turning) and straw marquetry, the last of which has a dedicated, thriving workshop within the company.
The breadth of Boddington’s ambition is evident in Silverlining’s individual pieces. The Urushi Breakfast Table pairs an ancient Japanese lacquer technique with a complex interlocking wood and metal circlet base; the Infinity Table applies through dyed sycamore veneer over a flowing 3D composite structure; the Slice Desk combines ancient hand-cut joint techniques with 5-axis shaping technology; and the Lumen Side Table combines bio-resin with dyed straw.
"When I founded Silverlining 40 years ago, I simply wanted to create extraordinary furniture without compromise - I never imagined that four decades later I would be appointed an MBE," says Mark Boddington. "The journey has been incredibly rewarding, but it has never been about me. The honour recognises the talent, dedication, and creativity of the remarkable people in Wales who have worked alongside me. Together, we've developed new techniques, taken risks, and pursued excellence in furniture making.
"Receiving an MBE is a tremendous honour because it recognises not only a lifetime of work, but also the importance of British craftsmanship and innovation. It gives everyone who has contributed to Silverlining's success an opportunity to celebrate and to champion the next generation of makers and designers.”
The award marks a significant moment for Boddington and Silverlining and recognises the continuing relevance of British furniture-making as a field of design, craft and innovation.
