Rosewood Desk Clock by Howard Miller
View Similar Items
Rosewood Desk Clock by Howard Miller
About the Item
- Creator:
- Dimensions:Height: 5.5 in (13.97 cm)Width: 4 in (10.16 cm)Depth: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:circa 1960
- Condition:Excellent.
- Seller Location:South Charleston, WV
- Reference Number:Seller: HM clock1stDibs: LU1616213423271
Arthur Umanoff
Though much of Arthur Umanoff’s furniture is marked by a no-frills simplicity common in American mid-century modern design, his work is anything but one-note. Over the course of a prolific career, Umanoff designed everything from case pieces to candleholders to dining chairs in iron, leather, walnut, wicker and more. With furnishings for a broad range of manufacturers throughout the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and early ’80s, Umanoff continued a thread of sculptural elegance and textural sensitivity through his designs.
After graduating from Pratt Institute in the early 1950s, Umanoff experimented mostly with wood furniture before landing a job at Post Modern Ltd, a New York manufacturer of wrought-iron furniture. There he produced furnishings that married wrought iron with wood and plastic, creating functional pieces free of utilitarian bulkiness. Umanoff continued his experimentation with mixed materials through a partnership with Shaver Howard, for whom he designed wine racks in combinations of iron, leather and wicker.
When Shaver Howard bought Boyeur Scott, Umanoff conceived several furniture designs for the brand, including the 1964 Granada collection, whose curlicue iron bases, visible through glass tops, stand out as some of his most ornate and decorative work. Indeed, much of Umanoff’s oeuvre is far more simplistic, like iron-and-pine armchairs for The Elton Co. or low-backed, slatted-seat barstools with slender iron legs for Raymor.
Umanoff was fluent, too, in the more sumptuous modernism of the era: In the mid-1960s, he designed the 2405 and 4449 armchairs for Madison Furniture Industries. Popular in offices, the walnut-framed, leather-upholstered seats, which could have been mistaken for the seductive Scandinavian modern seating of the era, were reportedly the jumping-off point for Captain Kirk’s iconic seat on Star Trek.
Even as he is among the mid-century modern designers you may not know, with work across such a range of styles and manufacturers (most no longer in business), Umanoff, who died in 1985, leaves a legacy that is fascinatingly diverse and at times enticingly elusive, making his work intriguing objects for collectors.
Find vintage Arthur Umanoff furniture today on 1stDibs.
George Nelson
Architect, designer, and writer George Nelson was a central figure in the mid-century American modernist design movement; and his thoughts influenced not only the furniture we live with, but also how we live.
Nelson came to design via journalism and literature. Upon receiving his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Yale in 1931, he won the Prix de Rome fellowship, and spent his time in Europe writing magazine articles that helped bring stateside recognition to Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Gio Ponti, Le Corbusier and other canonical modernist architects.
In the 1940s, Nelson wrote texts that suggested such now-commonplace ideas as open-plan houses, storage walls and family rooms. D.J. De Pree, the owner of the furniture maker Herman Miller, was so impressed by Nelson that in 1944 — following the sudden death of Gilbert Rohde, who had introduced the firm to modern design in the 1930s — he invited Nelson to join the company as its design director. There Nelson’s curatorial design talents came to the fore.
To Herman Miller he brought such eminent creators as Charles and Ray Eames, Isamu Noguchi, and the textile and furniture designer Alexander Girard. Thanks to a clever contract, at the same time as he directed Herman Miller he formed a New York design company, George Nelson & Associates, that sold furniture designs to the Michigan firm. Nelson's studio also sold designs for clocks to the Howard Miller Clock Company, a manufacturer that was initially part of Herman Miller before it became an offshoot that was helmed by Howard Miller, D.J. De Pree's brother-in-law.
Nelson’s New York team of designers (who were rarely individually credited) would create such iconic pieces as the Marshmallow sofa, the Coconut chair, the Ball clock, the Bubble lamp series and the many cabinets and beds that comprise the sleek Thin-Edge line.
For dedicated collectors, as well as for interior designers who look beyond “the look,” there is a “cool factor” inherent to vintage pieces from George Nelson and others. Nelson was in on it from the start, and it’s valuable to have a piece that was there with him.
But still, as is evident from the offerings from dealers on 1stDibs, in any of the designs, in any iteration whose manufacture Nelson oversaw and encouraged, there are shining elements of lightness, elegance, sophistication — and a little bit of swagger. George Nelson felt confident in his ideas about design and didn’t mind letting the world know.
- Uncommon Height Desk Chair from Arthur UmanoffBy Arthur UmanoffLocated in South Charleston, WVA very rare model from Arthur Umanoff. Special height chair believed to be used with his rush and birch desks he produced in the era. Note the stool seat height is 19-20" (chair seat is curved). All original with the original swivel metal foot glides and the swivel seat mechanism. Height 31.25". 18" wide and deep. Low foot rest...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Office Chairs and Desk Chairs
MaterialsSteel
- Petite Genuine Rosewood and Chrome Lamp by LaurelBy Laurel Lamp CompanyLocated in South Charleston, WVGenuine rosewood attached to the matte chrome finish. A small table lamp ideal for a credenza or bedroom. The harp can be exchanges out. Light Switch at the 16" mark. Measures 3.75" ...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Desk or Conference Table by Lehigh LeopoldBy Lehigh LeopoldLocated in South Charleston, WV71 5/8 x 35 5/8 x 28.75". Lehigh Leopold circa 1970. May be used as a conference table or executive desk. An exceptional piece of furniture, over engineered and industrial strengt...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Desks
MaterialsAluminum, Steel
- Standing Height Herman Miller Eames Contract Base TableBy Charles and Ray Eames, Herman MillerLocated in South Charleston, WVProduced 2010 and never used for the facility. In pristine condition with a few scuffs to feet and otherwise flawless. 36" wide 29" tall with matching black adjustable feet. Cherry l...Category
2010s American Mid-Century Modern Dining Room Tables
MaterialsSteel
- Charles & Ray Eames for Herman Miller 6' Conference Dining TableBy Herman Miller, Charles and Ray EamesLocated in South Charleston, WV71.75 x 41.75 x 27 7/8". Table was designed by Charles and Ray Eames in the early 1960s for Herman Miller, This model produced 1980. Laminate combed oak top. Signed to underside. Fea...Category
Vintage 1980s American Mid-Century Modern Conference Tables
MaterialsAluminum
- Set of 12 Available Pagholz Rosewood Tandem Stacking ChairsBy PagholzLocated in South Charleston, WVProduced circa late 1960s, early 1970s, these chairs are an uncommon model to find here in the United States. We have this listing for 12, and another listing for 6 darker toned mode...Category
Mid-20th Century German Mid-Century Modern Chairs
MaterialsRosewood
$191 Sale Price / item35% Off
- Mid Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Rosewood Square Desk Clock for Howard MillerBy Arthur Umanoff, Howard MillerLocated in Troy, MIArthur Umanoff model 645 alarm clock for Howard Miller circa late 1960s Rosewood case with aluminum dial on a black background Plug in electric movement with black hour and minute ha...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
MaterialsAluminum
- Howard Miller Desk Clock by Design Office of George NelsonBy Arthur Umanoff, Howard MillerLocated in Philadelphia, PAArthur Umanoff for The Design Office of George Nelson for Howard Miller Rosewood Desk or Table Clock. In great shape and running flawlessly! Been in use for about 6 months on my de...Category
Vintage 1960s American Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
MaterialsChrome
- Modern Grandfather Clock by Howard MillerBy Howard Miller, George NelsonLocated in Chicago, ILModern grandfather clock by Howard Miller, chrome and Lucite.Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Grandfather Clocks and Longcas...
MaterialsMetal
- Mantel Grandfather Clock by Arthur Umanoff for Howard MillerBy Howard Miller, Arthur UmanoffLocated in Los Angeles, CAThis is a solid oak circa 1975 Howard Miller mechanical pendulum wall clock. It is a model 612, has an 8-day winder and keeps excellent time. The case is a beautiful, heavy gleaming ...Category
Vintage 1970s American Mid-Century Modern Mantel Clocks
MaterialsBrass
- George Nelson Brass Clock for Howard MillerBy Howard Miller, Herman Miller, George NelsonLocated in Los Angeles, CAGeorge Nelson for Howard Miller brass clock. A round brass clock on a tri-legged brass pedestal with a thick plexiglass face. The clock has b...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
MaterialsMetal, Brass
- George Nelson for Howard Miller Clock #4766By Howard Miller, George NelsonLocated in Palm Springs, CAA nice vintage mid century modern George Nelson for Howard Miller 4766 Clock in working condition. The clock has an alarm function that is working as well. The clock bears a Treadway...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Table Clocks and Desk Clocks
MaterialsMetal, Brass
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
A Guide to Herman Miller’s Most Iconic Furniture
The prolific manufacturer has partnered with many of the world’s top designers since opening its doors in 1923. Here are some of the company’s greatest hits, which helped transform the American home and office.
Kule and Forsyth Give Iconic Furniture a Bold Makeover with Stripes
Maggie and Anne Genovese, of Forsyth, teamed up with fashion designer Nikki Kule to reimagine some classic pieces.