James Mont’s life as an unmistakably talented furniture designer and interior decorator could fill the pages of a best-selling novel or be reimagined as a Hollywood feature film. From the 1930s through the 1960s, Tinseltown’s glitterati and Manhattan’s Mafia underworld coveted his sofas, coffee tables and table lamps.
Mont was born Demetrios Pecintoglu in Istanbul, Turkey, in 1904 to a family of artists. He reportedly studied architecture and art in Spain and France, and during the 1920s, Mont immigrated with his family to the United States.
Mont and his family settled in New York, where he found work in a Brooklyn electrical supply shop. There he sold hardware and designed his own lighting fixtures. The latter caught the eye of a gangster named Frankie Yale, who commissioned him to refurnish his house. Mont’s opulent designs drew on Art Deco, Hollywood Regency and were occasionally marked by chinoiserie, then a very popular trend in decorating. He created the kind of low-profile side tables and sofas that are frequently associated with mid-century modernism, and he is credited today with helping popularize the integration of Asian influences in modern American design.
Mont soon attracted New York City’s most infamous crime bosses, including Charles “Lucky” Luciano and Frank Costello. For a range of mobsters, he created fashionable, functional and sophisticated pieces such as collapsible home bars that would fold down and out of view — a particularly convenient feature during Prohibition — and tables and desks with secret drawers, which were also handy to Mont’s shady clientele.
“You bought a bar from him, and he would also deliver booze in a baby carriage,” antiques dealer and furniture retailer Todd Merrill told New York about Mont in 2008.
Mont designed a room for the World’s Fair in 1939 and later befriended Hollywood celebrities such as Bob Hope, who was best man at his wedding, Irving Berlin and Lana Turner. During the 1940s and ‘50s, Mont continued designing furniture, mastering finishing techniques such as lacquering and incorporating a distinctive “leafing” print effect with silver and gold into his pieces.
Mont’s designs enjoyed a resurgence in the 1990s, and his pieces continue to be sought after by collectors.
On 1stDibs, discover a range of vintage James Mont sideboards, tables and storage cabinets.
Set of Four Signed James Mont Black Drink Glasses with Hand Drawn Caricatures
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This whimsical and sophisticated set of James Mont glasses were realized by James Mont, circa 1960. Realized in translucent glass, these water glasses feature four unique hand drawn ...
Enamel
Set of Four Mid-Century Modern Crystal Champagne Glasses, Silver Rim
By Dorothy Draper
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage footed drinking glasses crystal goblets, glassware. Elegant vintage midcentury crystal champagne footed glasses, silver rimmed...
Crystal
$980 / item
H 8 in Dm 3 in
fferrone Contemporary Czech Minimal Carafe Pitcher with Four Collins Glasses Set
By Felicia Ferrone
Located in Chicago, IL
This set includes contemporary, minimal 1 Dearborn Carafe and 4 Dearborn Collins Glasses. Perfect for everyday or formal dining settings, minimal Dearborn will enrich any occasion. It inverts tradition with intricate detail on the interior of the glass. Made without the use of molds and created with the finest quality fluted borosilicate glass, the Dearborn collection is innovative in its use of materials. Perfect for cocktails or drinks of any kind. Each piece is handcrafted by master glassblowers of fluted borosilicate glass allowing for thermal resistance for a range of hot and cold applications. The collection is oven, microwave, and dishwasher safe. In stock. Designed by: Felicia Ferrone, 2014 Handcrafted in Czech Republic Dearborn Carafe Material: borosilicate glass Size: 765 ml (26 fl oz) H 20 cm (7.87in) ø 8cm (3.15in) Dearborn Collins medium glass Material: borosilicate glass size 385...
Glass
$960 / set
H 8 in Dm 3 in
fferrone Contemporary Czech Minimal Carafe Pitcher with Four Water Glasses Set
By Felicia Ferrone
Located in Chicago, IL
This contemporary Czech set includes one Dearborn carafe and four Dearborn Water glasses. Perfect for everyday or formal dining settings or cocktails, the minimal and contemporary ...
Glass
$1,525 / set
H 8 in W 8 in D 8 in
fferrone Rare Presenter Set with Four Contemporary Whiskey Glasses Handmade
By Felicia Ferrone, Christopher Gentner
Located in Chicago, IL
Includes one rare presenter and four rare whiskey glasses Inspired by the pleasures of fine whisky, the rare presenter, by gentner design, elevates the experience through the art of presentation. The suspended tray with a unique handle allows it to be carried with one hand and prevents spillage of the rare glasses which are by ferrone. Material • borosilicate glass and tarnished brass type...
Brass
Vintage Crystal Footed Drinking Glasses Silver Rimmed Goblets
By Cristal d' Arques 1
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Crystal footed drinking glasses, goblets. Crystal glasses with platinum silver rim. These crystal champagne glasses are a versatile home bar essential...
Crystal
Set of Four Vintage Cocktail Glasses by Libbey with Gold Leaf Design
By Libbey Glass Co., Culver Ltd., Georges Briard, Dorothy Thorpe
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of four vintage cocktail glasses. Manufactured by Libbey, 1950s Hollywood Regency. Decorated with a classical gold leaf pattern on frosted...
Glass
$1,370 / set
H 8.75 in Dm 3 in
fferrone Contemporary Czech Glass Cocktail Set with Four Rocks-Martini Glasses
By Felicia Ferrone
Located in Chicago, IL
The contemporary Czech glass minimal Revolution collection set includes a cocktail mixer carafe, strainer, stir stick, and four double-ended Rocks Martini g...
Stainless Steel
Set of Four Vintage Federal Glass Game Bird Pilsner Glasses
By Federal Glass
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage set of 4 silver rimmed federal glass pilsner glasses game bird. Classic style for the outdoor enthusiast, tall pilsner beer glasses set in the "...
Blown Glass
$312Sale Price / set|37% Off
H 4.25 in Dm 2.94 in
Set of SIX Edwardian Glass Tumblers Engraved Drinking Glasses, circa 1905
Located in Lincoln, Lincolnshire
These are a good set of six crystal glass, engraved tumblers or drinking glasses, dating to the Edwardian period, circa 1905 Each glass tumbler has...
Glass
$522Sale Price|20% Off
H 21.26 in W 8.27 in D 4.73 in
Midcentury Italian Blown Drinking Glasses and Walnut Wood Holder Set, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
Excellent midcentury blown drinking glasses and walnut wood holder set. This fantastic set was produced in Italy during the 1970s. This piece...
Glass, Blown Glass, Wood
Etched Circle Crystal Wine Glasses, Set of 6
Located in Oklahoma City, OK
Up your bar game and entertain with this beautiful set of glassware. This set includes six wine glasses, each with circular etching around the bodies...
Glass
Italian Moorish Royal Blue and Gold Crystal Drinking Glasses
By Moser Glassworks
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Set of 2 royal blue and gold handblown Moorish crystal cobalt blue drinking glasses. Use them for or any hot or cold drink. Elegant, classic barw...
Glass