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.
$6,500 / set
Pair of 1950s James Mont Lamps
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful pair of 1950s hand carved Chinese figurine lamps by James Mont. The cinnabar lamp bases and figurines are decorated with gold leaf. ...
Wood
An Impressive James Mont Lamp
By James Mont
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A large, rare lamp by James Mont. Etched glass with stylized bamboo motif, laquered base. Original base and shade (recovered in green silk). Overall height including shade 39". Glass...
Brass
$3,850 / set
Large Pair of Brass Lamps by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Houston, TX
Large pair of brass lamps by James Mont. This stunning pair of Hollywood Regency Asian Modern brass lamps are statement pieces and have been n...
Brass
$5,800 / item
Pair of James Mont Lamps
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of column lamps by James Mont. The lamps have a beautiful decorative design with a glazed silver leaf finish. They have been newly rewired for the US with polished nickel doub...
Silver Leaf
$3,040Sale Price / item|20% Off
Art Deco Silver Gilt Carved Wood Inverted Bowl Chandelier by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Voguish, chic, and sophisticated carved wood inverted bowl hanging fixture, by James Mont. The chandelier features an intricate and finely detailed allover foliate motif in original ...
Giltwood
$9,800 / item
Pair of James Mont Silver Leafed Lamps
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of glazed silver leafed lamps by James Mont. The lamps have been newly rewired with polished nickel double clusters. The price is for the pair Lamp shades NOT included
Wood
$2,850 / set
Pair of Asian Modern Brass Lamps by James Mont
By Frederick Cooper, Wildwood Lamp Company, Chapman Manufacturing Company, James Mont, The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Asian Modern brass lamps by James Mont. These stunning heavyweight Hollywood Regency brass lamps feature Chinese characters, Greek key...
Brass
$2,850 / set
Pair of James Mont Asian Modern Brass Lamps
By James Mont, Chapman Manufacturing Company, The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of James Mont Asian Modern brass lamps. These stunning heavyweight Hollywood Regency brass lamps feature Chinese characters, Greek keys a...
Brass
$14,500 / set
Pair of Rare James Mont Bamboo Lamps
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful pair of James Mont bamboo lamps with a frog and snail detail. The lamps have their original silver leafed finish with a red underglaze and...
Wood
James Mont Gilt Wood Spiral Lamp
By Frederick Cooper, James Mont
Located in Miami, FL
Spectacular Parcel Gilt and Carved Wood open spiral form table lamp. New custom champagne / golden beige silk shade. The helix shaped lamp is in great original condition with gold l...
Glass, Wood, Silk
$9,800 / set
Pair of JAMES MONT Design Gilt Leafed Lamps
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of Wooden lamps with a beautiful gilt leafed finished. The lamps have been Newly re gilded and rewired with adjustable polished bras...
Wood
$2,880Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of James Mont Gilt Foo Dog Lamps on Cerused Oak Bases
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Great pair of Mont lamps, gilt foo dogs, mounted on cerused oak bases. These lamps include the original shades, shades show minor wear. Both lamps are i...
Giltwood, Oak
Substantial James Mont Pierced Column Ebonized Wood Table Lamp, C. 1950
By James Mont
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Monumental James Mont hand carved Black Pierced Column Table Lamp. Featuring a large, slight hourglass form in blackened carved wood with silvered details. Small footprint. Shade sh...
Wood
$1,520Sale Price|68% Off
James Mont Hand-Carved Hollywood Regency Buddha Lamp
By James Mont
Located in Pasadena, TX
Hand carved Buddha with plaster details. The lamp features lovely details in gold patina. Lampshade is not original. Example of a seated Buddha figure lamp by James Mont.
Gold
$1,619 / set
Pair of James Mont Style Brass Chinoiserie Lamps
By James Mont
Located in Redding, CT
Pair of James Mont Style Brass Chinoiserie Lamps. Intricate Asian motifs and detail to the brass design. Elegant large designer lamps that will make a statement in any room. Measure...
Brass
$1,565Sale Price / set|56% Off
Vintage Pair of Large Black Lacquer and Brass Table Lamps by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sizeable pair of handmade table lamps with black lacquered wood bases and shades & brass characters by James Mont, circa 1948. Pagoda or Asian temple motif informs this unique design...
Brass
Beautiful Pair of Table Lamps by James Mont with Original Shade
By James Mont
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We have over 3000 antique sconces and over 1000 antique lights, if you need a specific pair of sconces or lights; use the "Contact Dealer" button to ask us, we might have it in our s...
Brass
Mid-Century Floor Lamp by James Mont, with Original Shade
By James Mont
Located in Los Angeles, CA
We have over 3000 antique sconces and over 1000 antique lights, if you need a specific pair of sconces or lights, use the "Contact Dealer" button to ask us, we might have it in our s...
Brass
Pair of Gold Leaf Gilded Wood Gesso Lamps by James Mont, USA, 1950s
By James Mont
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Pair of Gold Leaf Gilded Wood Gesso Lamps by James Mont, USA, 1950s A pair of bulbous form Asian-inspired, heavy striated gesso design, red painted and gold gilt over wood table lam...
Wood
Large Pair of Hollywood Regency Asian Style Brass Table Lamps by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Incredible pair of Asian inspired brass table lamps, by James Mont. The lamps are in very fine, original, clean, working and ready to use condition, showing only light cosmetic wear,...
Brass
James Mont Twisted Oak Dark Walnut Finish Hollywood Regency Standing Lamp
By James Mont
Located in Westport, CT
James Mont standing lamp, dark walnut lacquered finish, midcentury Hollywood Regency design. Mont was born Demetrios Pecintoglu in Istanbul (then Constantinople, capital of the Otto...
Aluminum
James Mont Plaster Tara Buddha Head Lamp, circa 1950
By James Mont
Located in New Orleans, LA
Designed in the 1950s by James Mont, this mid century Tara Buddha bust vintage table lamp is a true statement piece for your eclectic or mid century home's decor. It is a ceramic pla...
Plaster
James Mont Ceramic Tara Buddha Head Lamp, circa 1950
By James Mont
Located in San Francisco, CA
James Mont ceramic Tara Buddha head lamp, circa 1950 Dimensions: 6" wide x 7" deep at the base x 29.5" high to the socket x 42" high to the finial ...
Ceramic
$1,675 / set
Pair of James Mont Carved Wood Table Lamps
By James Mont
Located in Norwood, NJ
Pair of James Mont calligraphy decorated carved wood table lamps. All original James Mont table lamps with carved Chinese calligraphy characters on all sides of tall column forms. Or...
Wood
$3,200 / set
Pair of Brass and Nickel Lamps by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of lamps by James Mont. The faceted nickel lamp bodies are framed in brass with ornamental ring. They sit up on wooden bases which have a pickled oak finish and are newly rewire...
Brass, Nickel
$3,500
James Mont Lamp
By James Mont
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Large scale table lamp. Carved and gilt surface. Period shade.
Wood
James Mont Carved Wood Column Lamp, Silver Leaf, Art Deco, 1940s
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite carved wood column lamp with a silver leaf finish by James Mont. Rewired for use in the USA. 60W max each socket.
Silver Leaf
James Mont Mid-Century Modern Chrome Table Lamp, USA, Circa 1955
By James Mont
Located in Queens, NY
American Mid-Century tall tapered square chrome plated filigree scroll design table lamp (JAMES MONT)
Chrome
James Mont, Pair of Giltwood Table Lamps, United States, circa 1960
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Mont’s designs set him apart as a singular figure of the American midcentury. Straddling the overlapping worlds of Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, and Mid- century Modern, he conformed ...
Wood
American Art Deco Glass Dome Bowl Chandelier
Located in Hanover, MA
Large opaque white glass dome/bowl supported in a five ring belt of brass embellished with silver X's, suspended by four brass rods hooked on a central canopy. Takes three standard E...
Brass
Art Deco Gilt Bronze Alabaster Six-Light Chandelier
Located in Frankfurt am Main, DE
Large French Art Deco gilt bronze chandelier with alabaster bowl shade suspended from three gilt bronze arms with knotted rope shape. T...
Alabaster, Bronze
Italian 1920s Art Deco Gilt Iron Chandelier
Located in Montclair, NY
A very nice Italian Art Deco chandelier, circa 1920. Entirely hand-wrought and gilt iron with spiral scroll work accents. Six arms support each candelabra socket with cover in a star...
Iron
$3,440Sale Price|20% Off
H 26.5 in Dm 22 in
1920 French Art Deco Carved Wood Dolphin/ Koi / Sea Creature 4 Fish Chandelier
Located in Opa Locka, FL
Stunning 1920s French Art Deco Expertly Carved Wood Koi/ Dolphin/ Sea Creature - Fish Chandelier. There are beautiful art glass flower shades included ...
Wood
$1,433Sale Price|59% Off
H 33.47 in Dm 27.56 in
French Art Deco Chandelier Gilt Silver and original Glass , 1930s
Located in La xara, VC
Exceptional Art Deco star-shaped chandelier in engraved bronze with original bronze patine France, 1930s-1940s. Seven lights. This recessed fixture features a 100% original central g...
Bronze
French Art Deco Frosted Glass Bowl Pendant Chandelier
Located in Queens, NY
French Art Deco (circa 1925) round pendant form frosted glass bowl form chandeliers with a fluted design and star finial bottom suspended by 3 chains.
Metal
Pair of Bronze Table Lamps in the Manner of James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Palm Springs, CA
1960s cast bronze with brass hardware on a wood base table lamps in the manner of James Mont. Newly rewired and new vanilla linen shades. Lamps can be purchased without shades. D...
James Mont Cerused Redwood and Brass Lamps
By James Mont
Located in North Hollywood, CA
James Mont cerused redwood and polished brass lamps.
Brass
James Mont Style Buddha Head Lamps (Pair)
By James Mont
Located in Southampton, NJ
Serenity meets Statement. Add a touch of ancient elegance to your space with this pair of vintage-inspired Quan Yin head lamps. From the weathered bronze patina to those sleek black ...
Resin
Chinoiserie Lamps After James Mont from the Waldorf Astoria
By James Mont
Located in Richmond, VA
Very handsome decorative chinoiserie lamps after famed designer James Mont. Acquired after a redecoration of the Waldorf Astoria. Dragon motif, bla...
Metal
Pair of James Mont Asian Modern Brass Lamps
By James Mont, Chapman Manufacturing Company, The Marbro Lamp Company
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of James Mont Asian Modern brass lamps. These stunning heavyweight Hollywood Regency brass lamps feature Chinese characters, Greek keys a...
Brass
$4,950Sale Price|23% Off
H 24 in Dm 24.5 in
French Art Deco Gilt Bronze and Carved Alabaster Seven-Light Chandelier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A French early 20th century Art Deco gilt bronze and carved veined alabaster seven-light chandelier. The carved circular veined alabaster plafonnier surmounted with six scrolled arms...
Alabaster, Metal, Bronze
Exceptional Pair of Carved Gnarly Tree Form Lamps by James Mont.
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular pair of 1950's lamps by James Mont. The wooden carved gnarly tree form lamps have a silvery / grey distressed finish have they been Newly rewired with adjustable Antiqued...
Brass
Pair of Frederick Cooper “Helix” Table Lamps
By James Mont
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Frederick Cooper Helix lamps designed by James Mont. Hand-carved fruitwood with a double barley twist. Art Deco/ Hollywood Regency ...
Wood, Fruitwood, Giltwood
Pair of 1950's James Mont "War of the Worlds" Lamps
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular Rare pair of 1950's James Mont lamps. The main lacquered lamp bodies are supported by eight tapered brass legs, and they have been Newly rewired for the US with adjus...
Brass
Pair of Mid-Century Modern James Mont Wood Spiral Helix Lamps
By James Mont
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
Dimensions: 6.75"W X 6.75"D X 38.5"H.
Wood
Midcentury James Mont Table Lamp
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This James Mont table lamp is comprised of a cast bronze body with wood base and top. It was made in the Mid-20th Century. Like Mont's other eccentric designs, the lamp brings togeth...
Bronze
Pair of Frederick Cooper “Helix” Table Lamps
By James Mont
Located in Houston, TX
Pair of Frederick Cooper Helix lamps designed by James Mont. Hand-carved fruitwood with a double barley twist. Art Deco/ Hollywood Regency ...
Wood, Fruitwood, Giltwood
James Mont Egyptian Canopic Jar Table Lamp
By James Mont
Located in Astoria, NY
James Mont Mid-Century Modern ebonized and parcel gilt molded composition table lamp in shape of an Egyptian canopic jar, designed circa 1960. Dimen...
Metal
James Mont Asian Modern Parcel Gilt Table Lamps
By James Mont
Located in Astoria, NY
James Mont Asian Mid-Century Modern pair of molded composition table lamps, parcel gilt and parcel silvered, in Chinese Modern taste, designed circa 1960, with original silk peplum s...
Metal
Pair of James Mont Carved Giltwood Table Lamps
By James Mont
Located in Astoria, NY
James Mont Mid-Century Modern carved giltwood table lamps, designed circa 1960, composed of older elements.
Giltwood
Pair of Rare James Mont Large Stable Lamps 1950 American Important
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
An iconic pair of American designer, James Mont’s War of the World Table lamps. They are composed of black enameled plaster bodies with polished bronze legs. The have a downward light under the body which illuminates the legs. Very good original condition. Rewired. Rare Documentation: Catalog for the James Mont Exposition by Gallerie Eric Phillipe...
Bronze, Enamel
Asian Style Mixed Metal Pair of Table Lamps, circa 1950s
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
All original James Mont Asian style mixed metal lamps with original harps and finials. As found condition with lots of patina, some wear. Very good quality, heavy for size.
Metal, Brass
James Mont Bamboo Lamp, Signed
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Rare James Mont bamboo motif lamp adorned with small a snail and frog. Original finish, wired with brown silk cord. Stamped on bottom.
Wood