Arthur Umanoff Seating

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

Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Sculptural Chairs

$1,450

Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Sculptural Chairs

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Early sculptural chairs by Arthur Umanoff. Chairs with signature rush back, slatted wood seat, and iron legs. Floating backrest. Look great from all angles. Good vintage condition. T...

Category

1950s American Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Iron

Set of 3 Arthur Umanoff "Grenada" Stools

$1,200 / set

Set of 3 Arthur Umanoff "Grenada" Stools

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Three swivel stools with a strong iron frame desgined by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard's "Grenada" collection. Decorative scrolled seat back and round footrest. Measures: Adjusts ...

Category

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

Materials

Iron, Metal, Chrome

Midcentury Chrome and Smoked Bronze Gauffraged Velvet Stool by Arthur Umanoff

$2,475

Midcentury Chrome and Smoked Bronze Gauffraged Velvet Stool by Arthur Umanoff

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in New York, NY

This stunning pair of stool was realized by the esteemed American designer Arthur Umanoff in the United States, circa 1960. It features circular polished chrome frames with six verti...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Chrome

Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Chair

$1,450

Arthur Umanoff Wood and Rush Chair

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Los Angeles, CA

Sculptural Arthur Umanoff chair with signature rush back, slatted wood seat, and iron legs. Metal frame in a vintage adobe finish. Rare design. Floating ...

Category

1950s American Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Iron

Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Bar Stools by Arthur Umanoff

$2,520 / set

Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Bar Stools by Arthur Umanoff

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Stamford, CT

A set of four mid-century Mayan sun face back iron bar stools by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard. Seats are red and white and yellow and lime green vinyl. A...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Iron

Restored Mid Century Arthur Umanoff Set of Four Slat Bar Stools

$3,000Sale Price / set|20% Off

Restored Mid Century Arthur Umanoff Set of Four Slat Bar Stools

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Van Nuys, CA

Restored Arthur Umanoff four slat bar stools in Oak with rod iron legs and swivel seats. Arthur Umanoff (1923-1985) was a prominent American designer know...

Category

1950s Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Oak

Arthur Umanoff Midcentury Iron and Rattan Catchall Table Stool

$3,347

Arthur Umanoff Midcentury Iron and Rattan Catchall Table Stool

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Franklin Park, IL

Arthur Umanoff Mid Century Iron and Rattan Catchall Table Stool This Stool measures: 32 wide x 20 deep x 15.75 inches high We take our photos in a con...

Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Iron

Arthur Umanoff Hoop Stools

$1,800 / set

Arthur Umanoff Hoop Stools

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Brooklyn, NY

Refinished pair of Mid-Century Modern stools by Arthur Umanoff. Features hoop back with rattan, metal frame has been given a bare metal look. (Please co...

Category

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

Materials

Metal

Arthur Umanoff Walnut Spindle Stools, USA 1960's

$5,750 / set

Arthur Umanoff Walnut Spindle Stools, USA 1960's

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in New York, NY

A set of spindle stools by Arthur Umanoff in walnut, upholstered in wool. Priced by the pair. Two pairs available.

Category

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

Materials

Upholstery, Walnut

Set of 4 Restored Wrought Iron & Birch Chairs by Arthur Umanoff, USA, c. 1960s

$3,995

Set of 4 Restored Wrought Iron & Birch Chairs by Arthur Umanoff, USA, c. 1960s

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Deland, FL

This striking set of four Mid-Century Modern chairs, attributed to or inspired by the designs of Arthur Umanoff, blends industrial elegance with organic warmth. Comprising two armch...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Iron

Arthur Umanoff Mid Century Modern Sculptural Chair

$945

Arthur Umanoff Mid Century Modern Sculptural Chair

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Wheat Ridge, CO

Sculptural Arthur Umanoff chair with signature rush back, slatted wood seat, and iron legs. Stunning from all angles! Measures: 32.5" high, 18.5" wide, and 18.5" deep with a seat he...

Category

Mid-20th Century American Scandinavian Modern Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Metal

Mid-Century Modern Bar Stools by Arthur Umanoff, Wrought Iron, 1960

$1,100

Mid-Century Modern Bar Stools by Arthur Umanoff, Wrought Iron, 1960

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Stamford, CT

The swinging 1960s! Two 1960s wrought iron stools by Arthur Umanoff, Rye and Gin with orange vinyl seats. Seat height is 29.5 inches.

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Wrought Iron

Three Stools by Arthur Umanoff, Walnut Spindle Base, Leather Seats, Excellent

$4,500 / set

Three Stools by Arthur Umanoff, Walnut Spindle Base, Leather Seats, Excellent

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Kansas City, MO

Set of 3 stools designed by Arthur Umanoff, 1950s. Expertly refinished and reupholstered with new off white / ivory leather tops. Together they also make a nice substitute for a benc...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Leather, Walnut

Pair of Chairs by Arthur Umanoff for Madison in Original Knit Fabric, c. 1960s

$1,995 / set

Pair of Chairs by Arthur Umanoff for Madison in Original Knit Fabric, c. 1960s

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Deland, FL

A highly collectible model designer by Arthur Umanoff for Madison Furniture. The legs and seat frame are constructed from brilliant cuts of walnut. The contoured back is rests perfec...

Category

1950s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Walnut

Patinaed Armchair in Solid Oak in the Manner of Arthur Umanoff, USA, c. 1960s

$775

Patinaed Armchair in Solid Oak in the Manner of Arthur Umanoff, USA, c. 1960s

By Arthur Umanoff

Located in Deland, FL

This handsome Mid-Century Modern armchair in solid oak captures the casual sophistication and honest materiality characteristic of Arthur Umanoff’s influential designs from the 1960s...

Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Arthur Umanoff Seating

Materials

Oak

Arthur Umanoff seating for sale on 1stDibs.

Arthur Umanoff seating 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 seating, although brown editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original seating 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 seating by Steelcase, Drexel, and Charles Pollock. Prices for Arthur Umanoff seating can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $450 and can go as high as $12,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,995.