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.
Leather/Chrome Sled Settee by Arthur Umanoff for Directional
By Directional, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Reupholstered/refoamed in tan leather
Chrome
Chrome Settee by Arthur Umanoff for Directional
By Directional, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Chicago, IL
c. 1970s. USA. Reupholstered in checkered navy fabric. Chrome frame.
Chrome
$9,500Sale Price|24% Off
H 26.5 in W 51 in D 27.5 in
'LC2' Black Leather Settee Sofa Loveseat by Le Corbusier for Cassina, Signed
By Pierre Jeanneret, Cassina, Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This incredibly comfortable Le Corbusier for Cassina 'LC2' two-seat loveseat sofa, signed (see pics, in gorgeous thick Italian black leather on chrome steel frame is in beautiful vin...
Steel
Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Chrome Settee Loveseat Sofa
By Milo Baughman, Thayer Coggin
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Milo Baughman for Thayer Coggin Chrome Settee Loveseat Sofa This settee measures: 61 wide x 37.25 deep x 28 inches high, with a seat height of 16 and arm height of 25 inches Good V...
Chrome
'Tank' Settee by Alvar Aalto
By Alvar Aalto
Located in New York, NY
Designed by Alvar Aalto and produced by Mouldcraft c.1950s, Canada. The Tank sofa is a rare design featuring a cantilevered frame in a bent birch wood that g...
Upholstery, Birch
Milo Baughman Style Mid Century Chrome Base Settee Sofa
By Milo Baughman
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Milo Baughman style mid century chrome base settee sofa The sofa measures: 60 wide x 34.5 deep x 30 high, with a seat height of 17 inches and arm height of 21 inches We take our ph...
Chrome
$1,195
H 27.5 in W 57.5 in D 35.5 in
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates Mid Century Cork and Chrome Settee
By Adrian Pearsall, Craft Associates
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Adrian Pearsall for Craft Associates mid century cork and chrome settee The settee measures: 57.5 wide x 35.5 deep x 27.5 high, with a seat height of 16 inches and arm height of 22 ...
Chrome
Hans Ell for 't Spectrum Settee in Chrome and Grey Upholstery
By Hans Elli, 't Spectrum Bergeijk
Located in Waalwijk, NL
Hans Ell for 't Spectrum, sofa or settee, model 'sz18', chrome-plated metal, fabric, The Netherlands, 1970-71 This sofa is designed by Hans Ell for 't Spectrum. A rare model, as th...
Chrome, Metal
$8,500 / set
H 27 in W 29.25 in D 30.5 in
Pair of Vintage Sled Base Chrome Lounges by Arthur Umanoff for Directional
By Milo Baughman
Located in Chicago, IL
Thick chrome tubing with attached cushions. NIce sled bases. Solid, Sturdy and comfortable Chairs. In the manner of Milo Baughman and Paul Tuttle.
Chrome
1970’s Leather Settee
By Percival Lafer
Located in Turners Falls, MA
1970’s Leather Settee. Bentwood arms with brass details. Button Cushions. Soft light Butterscotch color vintage leather. Sofa sits low and deep for loung...
Leather
Vintage Arthur Umanoff Stools
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Mid-Century Modern slat stools with rush backs. (Please confirm item location - NY or NJ - with dealer).
Iron
Pr. Mid Century Counter Height Stools by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor
By Arthur Umanoff, Raymor
Located in New York, NY
Classic pair of Mid Century counter height swivel stools, designed by Arthur Umanoff for Raymor., circa 1950/60's. The stools feature the signature wood slated seats, papercord wrapp...
Wrought Iron
Rocking Chair by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
The Arthur Umanoff rocking chair is a timeless piece of furniture that combines elegant design with exceptional comfort. Designed by Arthur Umanoff, a prominent mid-century modern fu...
Steel
$2,475
H 17.5 in Dm 16 in
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...
Chrome
Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard Modernist Bench / Settee
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Uncommon Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard bench / settee composed of a wrought iron frame with rush back and stained birch-slatted sea...
Wrought Iron
Sold
H 28.75 in W 49 in L 28.75 in
Modernist Settee by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard & Raymor Loveseat Bench
By Raymor, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Southampton, NJ
An exceptional example of museum-quality American Modern design from the 1950s - beautiful Minimalist settee designed by Arthur Umanoff for Shaver Howard and distributed by Raymor, i...
Iron
Sold
H 27 in W 57 in D 27.5 in
Arthur Umanoff Settee / Loveseat for Directional, Tubular Chrome, New Upholstery
By Directional, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Kansas City, MO
Loveseat designed by Arthur Umanoff and produced by Directional in 1971. Tubular chromed steel with new charcoal grey upholstery. Excellent condition and very comfortable. A rare Uma...
Chrome
Fabulous Settee and Pair of Ottomans in Polished Chrome & Ultrasuede
By Directional, Milo Baughman, Arthur Umanoff
Located in Pasadena, CA
Chic settee and pair of ottomans in polished chrome and ultrasuede in the style of Milo Baughman, circa 1971. Newly re-plated and re-upholstered.
Chrome
Rare Bench by Arthur Umanoff
By Arthur Umanoff
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare iron, slatted wood and paper cord bench by Arthur Umanoff. Made in USA circa 1960s.
Iron