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.
$12,500 / set
Rare Pair of James Mont Mid-Century Lounge Chairs
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite pair of rare lounge chairs by James Mont. The wide framed chairs have been fully restored with satin black frames and Mohair upholstery which is tufted on the seats.
Upholstery
$9,850 / set
Pair Of Lounge Chairs By James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Houston, TX
Pair Of James Mont Lounge Chairs. Glamorous and comfortable large pair of Mid-Century Modern upholstered lounge chairs, club chairs, side chairs or slipper chairs byJames Mont for Gr...
Velvet, Wood
$4,800Sale Price / set|70% Off
Fabulous Set of Eight Art Deco Influenced Dining Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Set of eight Art Deco influenced dining chairs by James Mont The beautifully carved chairs have the original silver leafed finish which is in Great condition with minimal wear and t...
Silver Leaf
Classic James Mont Tall Back Chair
By James Mont
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A classic James Mont tall back chair, ca' 1950's. Lacquered frame with velvet upholstery.
Mahogany
$2,800Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 32.75 in W 23.75 in D 29 in
Pair of Verner Panton Tufted 1-2-3 Mid Century Modern Lounge Chairs
By Verner Panton, Verpan
Located in Wayne, NJ
Pair of Verner Panton tufted 123 lounge chairs. Marked Verner Panton. If you are in the New Jersey , New York City Metro Area , please contact us with your delivery zip code, as we m...
Fabric
Pair of Mid Century Sabre Leg Lounge Chairs by Widdicomb
By Widdicomb Furniture Co., T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Rare and Iconic pair of Mid Century Sabre Leg Lounge Chairs by T.H. Robsjohn Gibbings for Widdicomb. These chairs are authentic, classic mid century beauties. I'm not sure that the...
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Adrian Pearsall Style Lounge Chairs
By Adrian Pearsall
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful pair of vintage modern lounge chairs feature winged arm rests, splayed legs, and a high back rest. A decorative yellow upholstery and sturdy walnut base add to the all...
Upholstery, Walnut
Pair of Lounge Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in San Francisco, CA
A pair of chairs in Jacaranda and upholstered in black faux leather, made in Brazil, circa 1950 by Joaquim Tenreiro. A total of four chairs are available.
Faux Leather, Jacaranda
Hollywood Regency James Mont Style Lacquer Lounge Armchair by Century
By Century Furniture, James Mont
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Hollywood Regency style lounge accent chair by Century Furniture. This James Mont style armchair features a gloss black lacquer wood frame with brass hardware accents. Cushion is new...
Brass
$124,800 / set
H 34.26 in W 17.72 in D 17.72 in
Mid-Century Modern Set of Eight Dining Chairs by Joaquim Tenreiro, 1950s
By Joaquim Tenreiro
Located in New York, NY
Made of solid rosewood with slatted backs and cane seats, these chairs were designed in the 1950s. As in many of Tenreiro’s works, lightness is not only a matter of weight but of gra...
Cane, Rosewood
Pair of James Mont Style Lacquered Horseshoe Chairs by Century
By Century Furniture, James Mont
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Opulent pair of large Chinese ming style horseshoe lounge chairs made by Century. Originally designed by James Mont these chairs epitomize his over the...
Brass
Pair James Mont King Cole Chairs, Circa 1960's
By James Mont
Located in Rochester, NY
A pair of King Cole Chairs. The name of these chairs comes from a James Mont commission for a lavish penthouse design in the King Cole building in Miam...
Upholstery, Bentwood, Cane, Faux Leather
Pair of Mid-Century Modern Italian Lounge Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
This beautiful pair of vintage modern armchairs feature cream-colored fabric with decorative armrests. The plush upholstery, tufted backrest, and splayed legs add to the midcentury a...
Upholstery
Set of Art Deco chairs, Poland, 1930s.
Located in Chorzów, PL
Set of Art Deco chairs, Poland, 1930s. Very good condition, professionally restored and reupholstered. Wood: oak Dimensions: height: 82 cm, seat height: 48 cm, width: 47 cm, depth...
Velvet, Oak
Art Deco Set of 6 Chairs, France, 1930
Located in Split, Splitsko-dalmatinska županija
This set of six French Art Deco dining chairs in solid oak was created in the 1930s, in a small workshop in the town of Albi, southern France. It is in this same town of Albi that we...
Oak
$3,495
H 29.5 in W 31 in D 27 in
Vintage Chinoiserie Ming Style Yoke Back Chairs Black Lacquered Style James Mont
By Century Furniture, James Mont
Located in Topeka, KS
Wonderful vintage Asian Chinoiserie Ming style yoke back chairs with black lacquered frames & brass details in the style of James Mont. Beautiful condition, keeping in mind that thes...
Brass
James Mont Designed Round Back Chair
By James Mont
Located in Brooklyn, NY
James Mont designed chair, made for the King Cole penthouse in Miami. Horseshoe wood frame with hand-woven cane back. Please confirm location NY or NJ
Cane, Wood
Set of 6 GREEK KEY Chairs by James Mont, U.S.A. 1950's
By James Mont
Located in Berlin, Berlin
A rare set of Mont's GREEK KEY black lacquered, solid mahogany dining room chairs. Recently upholstered in black DEDAR horsehair material, they look sensational. One of the most d...
Wood
Ming Style Chairs by James Mont for Century Furniture, a Pair
By Century Furniture, James Mont
Located in Wichita, KS
A pair of black lacquer 1960's vintage ming style chairs by James Mont for Century Furniture. These stylish and timeless chairs have been reupholstere...
Brass
Set of Four Wood and Velvet Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of four dining chairs with wooden frame designed by James Mont. The seats and backrest are upholstered in dark orange/red velvet. Partially restored - the upholstery is not new, ...
Velvet, Wood
Set of Four Greek Key Dining Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful set of four Greek key dining chairs designed by James Mont. The chairs are newly refinished in a high gloss black lacquer. The dove gray upholstery is a wool mohair fabric.
Mohair, Wood
Set of Four Wood and Velvet Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Madrid, ES
Set of four dining chairs with wooden frame designed by James Mont. The seats and backrest are upholstered in dark orange/red velvet. Partially restored - the upholstery is not new, ...
Velvet, Wood
Set of Eight James Mont Lacquered Dining Chairs
By James Mont
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Magnificent set of eight black lacquered Mid-Century Modern dining chairs designed by James Mont. The chairs feature an Asian foliate motif decorated back splat with a dramatic high gloss lacquer finish. The frames are made of thick round hardwood with a gracefully curved back. The crestrail is reminiscent of a Chinese official hat chair...
Velvet, Hardwood
Pair of James Mont Dolphin Chairs
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite pair of high back dolphin chairs by James Mont. The chairs have been beautifully reupholstered in a luxurious Romo velvet fabric and sit on de...
Upholstery
Pair of Midcentury Henredon James Mont Carved Lacquered Horseshoe Chairs
By Henredon, James Mont
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant pair of James Mont style horseshoe chairs by Henredon. These feature not only gorgeous cane seats but also custom leopard set cushions. All manufacturer hallmarks are at bott...
Fabric, Cane, Wood, Lacquer
Sold
H 36 in W 25 in D 24 in
Mid-Century Modern Signed Henredon James Mont Carved Lacquered Horseshoe Chair
By Henredon, James Mont
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant James Mont style horseshoe chair by Henredon. This one features not only gorgeous cane seat but also a custom leopard set cushion. All manufacturer...
Fabric, Cane, Wood, Lacquer
James Mont Black Asian Modern Lacquer Side Chair
By James Mont
Located in Norwood, NJ
James Mont black lacquer side chair. Chinoiserie modern desk chair. Asian style chair with cut out design, leather seat, nail head design. Al...
Wood
James Mont High Back Chair
By James Mont
Located in Philadelphia, PA
James Mont high backed chairs newly upholstered in brilliant red mohair with the original black lacquered legs. Legs have a drapery detai...
Mohair