ARTHUR UMANOFF ROCKING CHAIR FOR WASHINGTON WOODCRAFT

A solid, '60s-era, walnut and wicker rocking chair designed by Arthur Umanoff for WASHINGTON WOODCRAFT of New Jersey.

ARTHUR UMANOFF graduated from Brooklyn's Pratt Institute in the early 50's and soon after produced his first designs for Post Modern Ltd., a Long Island concern where he was a partner.  He was involved there in all phases of the design process—from concept, to prototyping and use-testing (in his own home), through to merchandising and marketing.  Umanoff's designs were distributed by the Elton Co. of New York City, as was the work of fellow designer and partner Tony Paul.

The wrought-iron and slat furniture—chairs, tables, bars, and bar carts—that most people recognize as Umannoff's work were produced by Shaver Howard, a company he designed for from 1954 into the '70s.  A firm called Storkline produced some of his Shaver Howard pieces on a reduced scale as children’s furniture in 1961, dubbing the collection "Little Shavers."  The inclusion of a miniaturized rattan bar raised eyebrows in the press, but Umanoff deflected criticism by referring to it a "milk bar."

Work for Madison Furniture Industries of Canton, Mississippi, began in 1963.  Umanoff's clock designs for the Howard Miller Clock Co. of Zeeland, Michigan, first appear in 1964.  During the '70s his designs are produced by an increasing number of companies including Directional, Thonet, Dillingham Furniture, Rouse/Jackson, and David Morgan.  In addition to Tony Paul, Umanoff maintained a good friendship with designer Ben Seibel.