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 magazine racks 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 bar stools, tables, benches and other furniture today on 1stDibs.
Arthur Umanoff Birch and Iron Bench/Coffee Table with Rush Nesting Stools
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Arthur Umanoff slatted birch bench/coffee table with iron legs concealing three nesting stools with rush seats (ca. 1950s, USA). Compact piece, ideal for smaller rooms with space li...
Wrought Iron
$5,800
H 36.25 in W 35.5 in D 17.75 in
Arthur Umanoff, Bar Cart, Iron, Birch, Rush, Formica, USA, 1950s
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in High Point, NC
A black-lacquered iron, birch, rush and white formica bar cart designed by Arthur Umanoff and produced by Raymor, USA, c. 1950s. Light to moderate discoloration present throughout w...
Iron
$1,694Sale Price|20% Off
H 17.33 in W 60.63 in D 19.69 in
Outstanding Flint Rolled Marble Coffee Table or Bench
By Poul Kjærholm
Located in Munich, DE
A quite industrial shape combined with an breathtaking raw marble top. Normal wise this kind of flint rolled marble can only be found at tables by Poul Kjaerholm. The top is absolute...
Marble
Mid Century Slat Bench Coffee Table Made in Yugoslavia C 1950s
By George Nelson
Located in New York, NY
Iconic slat bench coffee table, bench made in Yugoslavia, after George Nelson, circa 1950/1960's. Constructed of solid wood, in very good, original, clean and ready to use condition,...
Wood
$1,276Sale Price|20% Off
H 16.5 in W 59.5 in D 16 in
Mid Century Kipp Stewart Drexel Coffee Table Bench
By Bassett Furniture
Located in Baltimore, MD
A beautiful, mid-century, modern, retro, 1960’s, Danish style, coffee table/ bench, by Kipp Stewart and Stewart MacDougall for Drexel, from the Declaration series. The perfect length...
Walnut
Henredon Solid Walnut Bench Coffee Table
By Edward Wormley, Heritage-Henredon
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Mid-Century Modern stunning solid walnut grain long bench coffee table with rolled edges and one drawer similar to Edward Wormley for Dunbar bench.
Walnut
Organic Solid Top Coffee Table or Bench Live Edge
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nicely built organic shape coffee table or bench. Nice thick solid wood top.
Walnut
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Birch & Black Iron Bench / Coffee Table
By Harry Bertoia, Knoll
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Harry Bertoia for Knoll Light Wood Slat Bench / Table with Black Frame, Circa 1970's. Featuring an open rectangular form with Birch slats atop a geometric black enameled Iron framewo...
Iron
$1,500
H 20 in W 36 in D 18 in
Paul McCobb Planner Group Iron & Tobacco Finish Birch Higher Coffee Table, Bench
By Planner Group, Paul McCobb
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Early Paul McCobb Winchendon Planner Group high Coffee Table, Bench. Bed End Bench. Nightstand, 1950s. Featuring an open sturdy rectangular, braced thre...
Iron
Rare Early Walnut Bench or Coffee Table by Risom
By Jens Risom
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Very nice solid walnut bench or coffee table by Risom.
$4,595 / set
H 40.5 in W 60 in D 18.5 in
Mid Century Modern Iron Bar with Raffia and 3 Stools by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous Arthur Umanoff 4 PC set which includes the large, 60 inch bar with shelving and 3 original bar stools. This set is in great original condition with no issues at all. Wood, R...
Iron
Brass and Steel Footman Coffee Table or Bench
Located in Atlanta, GA
Brass and steel footman coffee table or bench, England, circa late 19th century. Originally used as a footman (a table used next to a cooking fire, where...
Brass, Steel
T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings Style Seven Foot Coffee Table, Bench, 1960's
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Mid Century Seven Foot Table, Bench attributed to T. H. Robsjohn Gibbings. Featuring a long rectangular reinforced and supported doweled framework in smoothly grained Ash detailed w...
Ash, Oak
Sold
H 16 in W 48 in D 18 in
Expertly Restored - Arthur Umanoff Spindle Coffee Table w/ Magazine Shelf
By Washington Woodcraft, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Designed by Arthur Umanoff for Washington Woodcraft, this spindle coffee table perfectly balances functionality and mid-century charm. Crafted with a slatted wood top and spindle magazine rack...
Wood, Walnut
Sold
H 15.5 in W 48 in D 18 in
Restored Arthur Umanoff Solid Walnut Magazine Rack Surfboard Coffee Table
By Grete Jalk, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Arthur Umanoff designed the mother of all magazine racks, or perhaps the most innovative coffee table of all time. This solid walnut coffee table has been delicately restored. The FMV restoration team was able to mitigate virtually every imperfection, with only a few, very minor flaws remaining. Here we have exceptional styling and design in the classic, Mid-Century Modern discipline. Look down on the table to see a bonfire of rich, ebony and amber, cathedral walnut grain. The curved edges along this surfboard coffee table create a sleek profile. The lower tier, suspended by a series of spindles forming the rack, is a harmonious marriage of function and form. An ideal vertical storage for books and magazines. This restored mid-century modern Arthur Umanoff coffee table...
Walnut
Sold
H 15 in W 60 in D 15 in
Arthur Umanoff Coffee/Cocktail Table with shelf and Drawer in Elm, Iron, & Cord
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Philadelphia, PA
American mid-century Arthur Umanoff iron and elm slat bench, cocktail table. Featuring a sturdy rectangular framework in Black enameled Wrought Iron, with a drawer and shelf made of ...
Iron
Sold
H 16 in W 48 in D 18 in
Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Coffee Table with Magazine Rack circa 1970
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff coffee table with magazine rack circa 1970.
Wood
Arthur Umanoff Woven Rattan & Black Wrought Iron Coffee Table, 1950s
By Raymor, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Arthur Umanoff for Raymor black wrought iron and woven wicker occasional table, 1950s. Rectangular woven wrapped surface with capped wrought ir...
Wrought Iron
Arthur Umanoff Coffee Table with Magazine Rack for Washington Woodcraft
By Washington Woodcraft, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Arthur Umanoff coffee table with magazine rack for Washington Woodcraft.
Formica, Wood, Walnut
Walnut Coffee Table with Magazine Rack by Arthur Umanoff
By Washington Woodcraft, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Littleton, CO
This beautifully-grained dark walnut coffee table by Arthur Umanoff for Washington Woodcraft incorporates a large rack for magazines or coffee table book display...
Walnut
Arthur Umanoff for Dillingham Olive Burl Coffee Table, circa 1970s
By Dillingham Manufacturing Company, Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Antonio, TX
This Arthur Umanoff for Dillingham olive burl coffee table with a black pedestal base is in overall good condition with minor surface los...
Burl
Sold
H 20.5 in W 22 in D 18 in
Midcentury Side Table / Magazine Rack in Solid Walnut by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Diego, CA
Stunning midcentury side table / magazine rack in solid walnut by Arthur Umanoff, circa 1950s. This beautiful and rare California design piece has been freshly refinished and is soli...
Walnut
Midcentury Arthur Umanoff Bench
By Washington Woodcraft, Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Jose, CA
Classic Mid-Century Modern designed bench by Arthur Umanoff for Washington Wood Prod. Inc. This versatile piece features two-tone double seating reupholstered in white and maroon vin...
Naugahyde, Oak
Arthur Umanoff Woven Rattan & Black Wrought Iron Coffee Table, 1950s
By Arthur Umanoff, Raymor
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Arthur Umanoff for Raymor black wrought iron and woven wicker occasional table, 1950s. Rectangular woven wrapped surface with capped wrought ir...
Wrought Iron
Arthur Umanoff Marble and Iron Coffee Table
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Arthur Umanoff marble and iron coffee table with his signature X base stretchers and pod feet. Legs are rakishly angled for an extra midce...
Carrara Marble, Wrought Iron