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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 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.

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 3 Barstools by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor
By Arthur Umanoff, Raymor
Located in Fraser, MI
Please feel free to reach out for efficient shipping to your location. Set of 3 Barstools by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor.
Category

1960s Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Wrought Iron

Vintage Enameled Iron Stools by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver-Howard Inc.
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Amazing vintage enameled iron stools designed by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver-Howard Inc., in the USA, circa 1960s. These handcrafted pieces, also known as model F-34, are a testament t...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Enamel, Iron

Arthur Umanoff Mid Century Dining Chairs - A Pair
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Countryside, IL
Arthur Umanoff Chairs - A Pair Each chair measures: 18 wide x 16 deep x 34 high, with a seat height/chair clearance of 18.5 inches All pieces of furniture can be had in what we cal...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Metal

Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard Iron & Cane Lounge Chair with Ottoman, 1950's
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard SH-202 Iron & Cane Lounge Chair + Ottoman. Featuring a reinforced Black enameled tri-legged Wrought Iron framework, capped feet, refinished slatted W...
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Enamel, Wrought Iron

A Pair of Spindle Side Tables by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Long Island City, NY
A Pair of side tables designed by Arthur Umanoff. These tables feature a sturdy walnut base with spindle details, paired with a fun mix of black and white on the round tabletops.
Category

20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Walnut, Paint

Pair of Rare Hexagon Spindle Side Tables in Wood by Arthur Umanoff 1960s
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Troy, MI
Pair Rare Arthur Umanoff Hexagon Spindle Cage Side Tables Pair of side tables designed by Arthur Umanoff for Washington Woodcraft 1960s Hexagon form with carved walnut spindles and...
Category

20th Century Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Wood, Laminate, Walnut

Arthur Umanoff Bar Cart Drinks Trolley for Shaver Howard Circa 1950s
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Peabody, MA
A rare form drinks trolley designed by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard, in wrought iron with wrapped cord, laminate and wood surfaces, circa 1950s.
Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff

Materials

Wrought Iron

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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 £121 and can go as high as £9,272, while a piece like these, on average, fetch £1,451.

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