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.
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
Taverneau Wood Tray by Arthur Umanoff for Pantalcraft, circa 1960
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Taverneau Wood Serving Tray with Wicker Handle, Oblong Shape by Arthur Umanoff for Pantalcraft Haiti, circa 1960 "in good vintage condition" "oiled with food grade mineral oil" ...
Hardwood
Vintage Taverneau and Rattan Deviled Egg Tray by Arthur Umanoff for Pantalcraft
By Raymor, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern deviled egg tray (model #531) in taverneau wood with rattan-wrapped handles designed by Arthur Umanoff for Pantalcraft as part of a line of wooden serveware that w...
Rattan, Wood
Arthur Umanoff "Chatter Platter" Snack Tray
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Highland, IN
Arthur Umanoff's designs often embrace playfulness and whimsy and this plastic serving tray is a great example. From his "Chatter Platter" line of "literals" (a famous 1970s design t...
Plastic
$662
H 2.37 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Italian MidCentury Serving Tray Basket in Lucite, Rattan and Brass, 1970
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian MidCentury Serving Tray Basket in Lucite, Rattan and Brass, 1970 Gorgeous serving tray or basket, in the shape of a shell, made of Lucite, rattan and brass. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Braided rattan is cast within the Lucite acrylic material. Beautiful workmanship. The brass part is kept in original vintage version, with the patina from that time. Since the shape is as a shell, the tray inside...
Brass
Midcentury Teak Serving Tray or Platter
Located in San Diego, CA
Midcentury teak serving tray or platter from Denmark, circa 1960s. The platter is 12" in diameter and .5" high. The piece is in very good...
Teak
$325
H 0.92 in W 18.75 in D 3.4 in
Mid-Century Modern Korina Wood Divided Serving Tray by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage hand carved rectangular wood tray features Modernist shape and graphic wood grain patterns with the natural tonal range. The handle is wrapped with reed or cane. Minimal shap...
Reed, Wood
Serving Tray, 19th Century English in Papier Mâché
Located in Dallas, TX
19th century English papier mâché serving tray with an exquisitely hand painted scene of a stylized bird, floral bouquet and rococo bordering with lacquered finish. Perfect for servi...
Paper
Lacquered Wood "Rosa" Tray by Pierro Fornasetti
By Fornasetti
Located in Montreal, QC
Lacquered Wood "Rosa" Tray Transfer lithograph by Pierro Fornasetti
Lacquer
$759Sale Price|30% Off
H 1.97 in W 21.07 in D 8.67 in
French Decorative Ceramic Tray by Albert Thiry 'circa 1960s'
By Albert Thiry
Located in London, GB
Mid-century decorative tray (circa 1960s) by Albert Thiry. A chalk-white glaze provides the background for a colourful thistle motif in the centre. The rim has touches of earthy gree...
Ceramic
$275
H 2.25 in W 21.9 in D 6 in
Taverneau Wood Carved Fish Shaped Charcuterie Tray in Style of Arthur Umanoff
Located in Clifton Springs, NY
Vintage carved wooden tray or charcuterie board features minimal fish shaped outline with detailed decorative tail element that can be used as a handle. The tray is equipped with cylindrical brass skewer...
Brass
$1,463
H 1.78 in W 18.51 in D 7.09 in
Ceramic Fish Shaped Snack Cocktail Serving Tray / Wall Decoration, 1950s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Large glazed ceramic amber and black fish platter / wall plate, Spain, 1950s. The perfect serving piece for entertainment or party with four compartments. It can be hung on the wall ...
Ceramic, Majolica, Pottery
$626
H 2.17 in W 14.97 in D 11.42 in
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Plate by Etienne Daniel, French Vallauris, 1950s
By Robert Picault
Located in Camblanes et Meynac, FR
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Plate by Etienne Daniel, French Vallauris, 1950s Large dish enamelled in white, green and brown tones adorned with stylized...
Enamel
Arthur Umanoff Wine Rack
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Chicago, IL
Wrought iron and leather strapped wine rack.
Wrought Iron
$692
H 0.99 in W 23.23 in D 14.57 in
Mid-Century Modern Serving Tray with Brass Frame & Smoky Glass, Italy
Located in Catania, IT
Elegant mid century tray, brass frame and smoky glass. Excellent vintage condition
Brass
Rattan and Brass Italian Centerpiece Tray Basket, 1970s
Located in Barcelona, ES
Mid-Century Modern brass and rattan round tray basket or centerpiece. It has a brass trim covering the top and brass handles at both sides. Handcraft...
Brass
Arthur Court Aluminum Crab Seafood Serving Platter
By Arthur Court
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Arthur Court cast aluminum seafood oyster serving platter with crab and lobster decorations.
Aluminum
$1,959Sale Price|20% Off
H 3.94 in W 18.51 in D 12.21 in
Mid-Century Modern Ceramic Plate by Roger Capron, France
By Roger Capron
Located in London, GB
A large decorative platter by artist Roger Capron (1922 - 2006) who founded the craft-based workshop in Vallauris, France, l'Atelier Callis, w...
Ceramic
Mid-Century Wooden Tray, Brown Wood, Sweden, Modern Design, 1960s
Located in Hamburg, DE
Mid-Century Wooden Tray, Sweden, 1960s, in Very Good conditions. Designed 1960 to 1969. Additional information: Materials: Wood Color: Brown Styles: Mid-Century Modern Country of Or...
Wood
Taverneau by Arthur Umanoff Serving Tray
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wonderful modern taverneau serving tray with reed trimmed handles by Arthur Umanoff. Numbered piece, #553.
Wood