Arthur Umanoff Furniture

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.

Creator: Arthur Umanoff

Dealer: 20c Modern

Mid Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Rosewood Square Desk Clock for Howard Miller

By Arthur Umanoff, Howard Miller

Located in Troy, MI

Arthur 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

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Aluminum

Mid Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Rosewood Square Desk Clock for Howard Miller

Category

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

Materials

Metal, Enamel

Mid-Century Modern Kite Wall Clock by George Nelson, Howard Miller, Vitra Label

H 16.5 in W 21.5 in D 4.25 in

Vintage Howard Miller World Time Mid Century Modern Walnut Frame Wall Clock

By Howard Miller

Located in Philadelphia, PA

Vintage Howard Miller World Time Mid Century Modern Walnut Frame Wall Clock in Working Condition. Circa Mid 20th Century. Measurements: 19" H x 25.5" W x 4" D.

Category

Mid-20th Century Unknown Mid-Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Walnut

Vintage Howard Miller World Time Mid Century Modern Walnut Frame Wall Clock

H 19 in W 25.5 in D 4 in

Howard Miller Iconic Clock by George Nelson

By Howard Miller

Located in Riverdale, NY

Iconic and classic Howard Miller ball clock from the 1950's by George Nelson. Wonderful Atomic style with a central clock motif with 50's styl...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Metal

Howard Miller Iconic Clock by George Nelson

H 3.5 in Dm 13.5 in

Modern Grandfather Clock by Howard Miller

By Howard Miller, George Nelson

Located in Chicago, IL

Modern grandfather clock by Howard Miller, chrome and Lucite.

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Metal

Modern Grandfather Clock by Howard Miller

H 56 in W 13 in D 2.5 in

Vintage George Nelson / Howard Miller Multi-color Spike / Starburst Clock

By Howard Miller, George Nelson

Located in Buffalo, NY

Iconic Vintage George Nelson / Howard Miller Multi-color Spike / Starburst Electric Wall Clock,, Amazing colors,, wonderful patina,, retains original Howard Miller label,, Tested and...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Metal

Vintage George Nelson / Howard Miller Multi-color Spike / Starburst Clock

H 19.5 in Dm 19.5 in

1970s Rattan Wall Clock by Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller

By Arthur Umanoff, Howard Miller

Located in Brooklyn, NY

A perfectly designed mid-century modern wall clock by Arthur Umanoff for George Nelson Associates for the powerhouse clock maker Howard Miller, likely from the 1970s. A model 517, i...

Category

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

Materials

Rattan, Wood

1970s Rattan Wall Clock by Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller

H 2 in W 15 in D 15 in

1970s Howard Miller zebrawood and chrome wall clock designed by Arthur Umanoff

By Howard Miller, Arthur Umanoff

Located in Phoenix, AZ

1970s Howard Miller wall clock model 616 designed by Arthur Umanoff Associates. “Zebrawood” veneer (described as “Leriex rosewood veneer” in the 1975/1976 catalog), chrome frame and hour marks, and original George Nelson hands. 13.5” round, 2.75” deep. The clock matches the well known Peter Protzman desk...

Category

1970s American Post-Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Chrome

1970s Howard Miller zebrawood and chrome wall clock designed by Arthur Umanoff

H 2.75 in Dm 13.5 in

Vintage Arthur Umanoff “Meridian” Clock for Howard Miller

By Howard Miller, Arthur Umanoff

Located in San Diego, CA

Vintage pendulum wall clock designed by Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller. The “Meridian” clock features aspects of Danish Modern design with a walnut w...

Category

1970s North American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Aluminum, Brass

Vintage Arthur Umanoff “Meridian” Clock for Howard Miller

H 36.5 in W 17 in D 4 in

George Nelson Birch & Brass Wall Clock for Howard Miller

By Howard Miller, George Nelson

Located in Los Angeles, CA

George Nelson Birch & Brass wall clock for Howard Miller.

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Brass

George Nelson Birch & Brass Wall Clock for Howard Miller

H 14.5 in W 14.5 in D 3 in

Mid-Century Modern Floor Clock Howard Miller Olivewood Case

By Howard Miller

Located in Toledo, OH

Mid-Century Modern olivewood case Howard Miller floor clock. Chrome base. Runs. Chimes need to be adjusted. Very good condition. Dimensions: ...

Category

20th Century North American Modern Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Wood

Mid-Century Modern Floor Clock Howard Miller Olivewood Case

H 68 in W 16 in D 9 in

Mid-Century Modern Barwick for Howard Miller Lucite Grandmother Clock, 1970s

By Howard Miller

Located in Keego Harbor, MI

For your consideration is a gorgeous, standing grandmother clock, with a Lucite face, by Barwick for Howard Miller, circa the 1970s. In excellent condition. The dimensions are 13" W ...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Lucite

Mid-Century Modern Barwick for Howard Miller Lucite Grandmother Clock, 1970s

H 66.5 in W 13 in D 8 in

George Nelson Model-4758 Wall Clock for Howard Miller

By Howard Miller, George Nelson

Located in Los Angeles, CA

George Nelson Model-4758 wall clock for Howard Miller.

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Metal

George Nelson Model-4758 Wall Clock for Howard Miller

H 14 in W 14 in D 3 in

Previously Available Items

Mid Century Modernist Arthur Umanoff Howard Miller Rosewood Cylinder Flip Clock

By Arthur Umanoff, Howard Miller

Located in Troy, MI

Rare Arthur Umanoff model 4620 desk clock for Howard Miller circa 1960s Rosewood and acrylic cylinder case with exposed movement and flip numbers Original label intact Please note m...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Furniture

Materials

Acrylic, Rosewood

Mid Century Modernist Arthur Umanoff Howard Miller Rosewood Cylinder Flip Clock

H 3.5 in W 6 in D 3.5 in

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 Furniture

Materials

Wood, Laminate, Walnut

Pair of Rare Hexagon Spindle Side Tables in Wood by Arthur Umanoff 1960s

H 16 in Dm 16 in

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.