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.
James Mont Dining Chairs Set Four Refinished Reupholstered Mid Century Art Deco
By James Mont
Located in Atlanta, GA
Set of Four Elegant James Mont Dining Chairs, American, 1950s. These chairs are currently being refinished and reupholstered and can be completed in your choice of wood color and reu...
Upholstery, Wood
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
$14,850 / set
Set of Six Leather James Mont "King Cole" Chairs
By James Mont
Located in Dallas, TX
Magnificently designed, James Mont style bent beechwood armchairs. Most famously used by James Mont in one of his most notable commissions, the King Cole Penthouse in Miami. Mont use...
Bentwood, Leather
James Mont Black Lacquer Dining Chairs - Set of 6
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
Set of six James Mont designed chinoiserie decorated and black lacquered dining side chairs with pierced bamboo decoration to backrest and upholstered seats. Accompanied by an origin...
Hardwood
Set of 6 James Mont American Modern Cerused and Silver Gilt Dining Side Chairs
By James Mont
Located in Queens, NY
SET of 6 midcentury (1950s) American Modern matte gray cerused oak dining chairs, 2 armchairs, 4 side chairs, the back and seat upholstered in a textured geometric pattern with gold ...
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery, Oak
$3,900Sale Price / set|50% Off
H 31 in Dm 21 in
Set of Four Bertha Schaefer Dining Chairs Italian Mid Century
By M. Singer & Sons, Bertha Schaefer
Located in New York, NY
A set of sculptural light/medium walnut chairs by Bertha Schaefer for Singer and Son. Reupholstered in a golden cream/off white cotton/linen blend. Original Tag. Chairs were made in ...
Walnut, Cotton
Set of Four Chrome Base Mid Century Dining Chairs
By Saporiti, Milo Baughman
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Set of nice Mid-Century Modern chairs on chrome bases with vinyl upholstery.
Chrome
1940s Set of Four Art Deco Dining Chairs
Located in Praha, CZ
- Good original condition with minor signs of use - The chairs have been reupholstered some time ago.
Wood, Fabric
$3,560Sale Price / set|60% Off
H 40.5 in W 23 in D 21 in
Set of 6 Maison Jansen Cerused Oak Dining Chairs
By Maison Jansen
Located in Hanover, MA
1stdibs SATURDAY SALE 60% discount Stamped Maison Jansen gorgeously finished set of 6 dining chairs each stamped "Jansen" in cerused oak with a clear shiny gloss finish and brass em...
Brass
Set of 8 Costantini Lacquered Dining Chairs
By Pietro Costantini
Located in Dallas, TX
Chic set of post modern dining chairs designed by Pietro Costantini in San Vito al Torre Italy. The iconic chairs feature sculptural style piano black lacquered frames with conformin...
Wood, Lacquer
1960s Set of Six Spanish Wood & Leather Chairs
Located in Marbella, ES
1960s set of six Spanish wood and leather chairs.
Leather, Wood
Chic Set of 8 Lacquered Dining Chairs
Located in Bronx, NY
Chic set of 8 dining chairs in black lacquer with padded seat panels. The chairs are in very good condition and quite comfortable.
Hardwood
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
$1,650 / set
H 29 in W 20.5 in D 21 in
Mid Century Modern Cane James Mont King Cole Style Bentwood Arm Chairs - a Pair
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Please message us with your zip code to request a more reasonable domestic U.S. shipping quote. Vintage Mid Century Modern Cane "James Mont, King Cole" Style Bentwood Arm Chairs - a...
Cane, Wood
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
$6,000 / set
H 34.25 in W 23.5 in D 24.25 in
Tomlinson Furniture Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs, Set of 6, 2 Arms, 4 Sides
Located in Miami, FL
Tomlinson Furniture Mid-Century Modern Dining Chairs, Set of 6, 2 Arms, 4 Sides Offered for sale is a set of six Tomlinson Furniture American mid-century modernist dining chairs inc...
Naugahyde, Wood
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
Set of Eight Vintage James Mont Style Lacquer and Gilt Dining Chairs
By James Mont
Located in Locust Valley, NY
A set of eight vintage dining chairs in James Mont style, high gloss black lacquer with gilt detail. The chairs have an open back with gilt floral motif down the center frame and vel...
Lacquer
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
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
Set of Six James Mont Style Horseshoe Chairs by Bernhardt
By Bernhardt, James Mont
Located in Rio Vista, CA
Fabulous set of six Mid-Century Modern horseshoe chairs by Bernhardt Furniture Company. Made in the manner and style of James Mont featuring a black lacquered finish. Shaped chow sty...
Fabric, Wood
Sold
H 36 in W 19 in D 19 in
Documented Regency Set of Four Silver-Gilt Wood Dining Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
These exquisite Hollywood Regency chairs are of neoclassical in inspiration. They are made of silver-giltwood with a circular cut-out in the back .They would make wonderful dining or...
Silver Leaf
Set of Eight Carved Green Blue Dining Chairs by James Mont, 1940s
By James Mont
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Beautiful set of eight (8) James Mont dining chairs, two (2) armchairs and six (6) side chairs, created by the "grandfather of exotic modernism" himself, circa 1940. Ornate and r...
Silk, 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
Sold
H 35.5 in W 19 in D 20 in
Set of Four Dining Chairs by James Mont with Decorative Greek Key Design
By James Mont
Located in Hudson, NY
Stunning James Mont dining chairs in a vibrant and exciting color combination. Frames are finished in a gold colored speckled finish with cream colored detailing. Seat upholstery is ...
Upholstery, Mahogany
Set of Ten Greek Key Dining Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Set of ten dining chairs by James Mont in one of his signature Greek key design. They have a high black lacquered finish, and are they newly reupholstered in a taupe Mohair fabric.
Upholstery, Wood