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Arthur Umanoff

American, 1923-1985

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.

Sublime Bookmatch Olivewood Extension Dining Table by Arthur Umanoff, c 1975
By Dillingham Manufacturing Company, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Atlanta, GA
This magnificent dining table is shipped as professionally photographed and described in the listing narrative: Meticulously professionally restored and installation ready. An excep...
Category

1970s American Organic Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Olive, Hardwood

Mid Century Modern 1 pair Counter Height Bar Stools by Arthur Umanoff
By Boyeur Scott Furniture Co., Arthur Umanoff
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous pair of bar/ counter stools by Arthur Umanoff for the Boyeur Scott furniture Co. C1960. Priced and Sold as a pair. Construction is an iron frame with a Swiveling seat of map...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Modern Set of 4 Bar Counter Swiveling Stools by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Port Jervis, NY
Fabulous set of 4 Granada bar stools in all original finish and condition. Designed by Arthur Umanoff for The Scott Boyeur Collection in the early 1960s. In...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Iron

Set of Four Bar Height Wood Slat Stools by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in New York, NY
Unusual set off bar height stools designed by Arthur Umanoff, circa 1950's. The stools feature slatted backs and seats with solid wrought iron frames, on dowel form legs with exposed...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Wrought Iron

Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Sculptural Chairs
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sculptural Arthur Umanoff chairs with signature rush back, slatted wood seat, and iron legs. Floating backrest. Look great from all angles. Good vintage condition. Five available. Pr...
Category

1950s American Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Iron

Mid-Century Solid Walnut Magazine Rack by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Diego, CA
Mid-century solid walnut magazine rack by Arthur Umanoff, circa 1960s. The piece is in very good vintage condition and measures 21"W x 8.25"D x 14.75"H. Great California design on th...
Category

Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Walnut

Black Outdoor Patio Set by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glamorous high back armchair and table design by Arthur Unamoff in the 1960s. The set is constructed of steel that has been newly powder coated satin black, new 48” diameter 1/2” thi...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Steel

American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Solid Walnut Magazine Rack
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid walnut magazine rack, designed by Arthur Umanoff circa 1960s California design, nice condition. Freshly refinished.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Walnut

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Arthur Umanoff furniture for sale on 1stDibs.

Arthur Umanoff furniture are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of metal and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Arthur Umanoff furniture, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original furniture by Arthur Umanoff were created in the mid-century modern style in north america during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider furniture by Russell Woodard, Charles Eames, and Century Furniture. Prices for Arthur Umanoff furniture can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $150 and can go as high as $12,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,800.

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