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 Taverneau Collection Divided Tray for Raymor
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Diego, CA
An original hand-carved divided serving tray from the celebrated Taverneau Collection, designed by Arthur Umanoff and distributed by Raymor. Crafted in Haiti from richly grained Tave...
Walnut
$225
H 0.75 in W 13 in D 11.75 in
Mid-Century Modern Taverneau Serving Tray by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage serving platter tray designed by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor, circa 1960's. This solid piece is made out of Taverneau wood and features ...
Reed, Wood
Leather Tray, Large A Square Tray, Handmade - Color: Wine
By Aria Home
Located in Curitiba, Parana
Monochrome Collection Trays For various purposes, the Monochrome Collection Trays can be used individually or as a set. Their sizes are customizable, so feel free to get creative an...
Leather
Arthur Umanoff Tray
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Miami, FL
Wood
$650
H 4.5 in W 4.5 in D 3 in
Mid Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Rosewood Square Desk Clock for Howard Miller
By Howard Miller, Arthur Umanoff
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...
Aluminum
1970s Howard Miller Wall Clock designed by Arthur Umanoff Zebra Wood & Chrome
By Irving Harper, Howard Miller, Arthur Umanoff, George Nelson
Located in Miami, FL
This 1970s mid-century modern wall clock, designed by Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller, features a striking Zebra Wood veneer, a polished chrome frame, and original George Nelson-style hands, making it a highly collectible decorative piece. The clock is model 616, created by Arthur Umanoff Associates in the 1970s for Howard Miller. It showcases a Zebra Wood veneer, referred to in the 1975/1976 Howard Miller catalog as "Leriex rosewood veneer," combined with chrome accents including the frame and hour markers. The hands are the original George Nelson-style metal hands, reflecting Umanoff’s mid-century modern aesthetic. This design harmonizes with other Vintage Retro Furniture pieces from the era, such as Peter Protzman desks...
Zebra Wood
Sommerso Glass Apple by Hanne Dreutler and Arthur Zirnsack for Studio Åhus
By Studio Ahus
Located in Bochum, NRW
Stunning classic Glass APPLE by Hanne Dreutler for Studio Åhus from 1992. Beautiful, vibrant light green and clear glass made in sommerso technique that originated in Murano, Italy. ...
Murano Glass
Arthur Umanoff Round Walnut Spindle Wastepaper Basket, Circa 1960
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Bainbridge, NY
American Mid Century Modern Arthur Umanoff Walnut Spindle Paper Can, Trash Basket. Circular Walnut spindle surround with Off-White enameled liner can for ...
Metal
1970s Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller wall clock
By Arthur Umanoff, Herman Miller
Located in Phoenix, AZ
Arthur Umanoff for Howard Miller 1970s wall clock, model #588. Made of a walnut case, original red back, brushed aluminum clock face, brass Roman nu...
Aluminum
$2,050
H 47.75 in W 16.5 in D 18 in
Hard-to-come-by Wrought Iron + Rattan Floor Candelabra by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Kensington, MD
- This single Wrough Iron floor candelabrum by Arthur Umanoff has four candle stems forming a double “U”, the outer two of which are wrapped in cane. - The base is composed of an ups...
Iron
$850
H 3 in W 16 in D 16 in
Vintage Stationmaster 611 Oak 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 powerhouse clock maker Howard Miller. The model 611 Stationmaster has a round solid oak case, white face wit...
Metal
Arthur Umanoff Wall Clock Model 557, Walnut & Aluminum, 1970s
By Arthur Umanoff, Howard Miller
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A sculptural marvel from the Meridian line, this Howard Miller Model 557 wall clock was designed by Arthur Umanoff in the 1970s. Its form—coffin-shaped and hand-crafted in warm walnu...
Walnut
Arthur Umanoff Candelabrum in Teal
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A striking and large-scale sculptural candelabrum by celebrated American designer Arthur Umanoff, featuring a wrought iron frame finished in its original teal enamel—a rare and sough...
Iron, Enamel