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.
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
James Mont Silver Greek Key Motif Side Chair
By James Mont
Located in Stamford, CT
1940s James Mont Greek key motif side chair. Recently repainted in antique silver painted finish. Recently upholstered in grey Edelman Leather calf ha...
Animal Skin, Wood
James Mont Slipper Chairs, Black Lacquer & Mohair Upholstery, 1940s
By James Mont
Located in Dallas, TX
Pristine pair of black lacquered James Mont low chairs with mohair.
Mohair, Upholstery, Wood
$16,500 / set
H 42 in W 18 in D 20 in
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
Stellar Set of 4 Cane Back Chairs by Edmond Spence
By Edmond J. Spence
Located in Atlanta, GA
A superb set of a very difficult to find series of chairs by Edmond Spence, circa 1950's. Birch with cane backs. Excellent Restored Condition, with wonderful patina. The price noted ...
Fabric, Wood
$16,500 / set
H 25.5 in W 28 in D 30 in
Danish Designer, Slipper Chairs, Beech, Mohair, Denmark, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of green mohair and beech lounge chairs or slipper chairs designed and produced by an unknown cabinetmaker, Denmark, c. 1940s. Seat height: 15"
Mohair, Beech
$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 James Mont, Century Furniture
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
Napoleon III Style Slipper Chair
Located in Sheffield, MA
The slipper chair reflects the Napoleon III style of the mid-19th century with gold brocade fabric with deep cushion affect and exuberant fringe. Fr...
Fabric
$1,920Sale Price|20% Off
H 30 in W 28.25 in D 27.25 in
Ming Style Black Lacquer & Brass Low Chair After James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Pasadena, TX
Ming style black lacquer & brass low chair after James Mont. Ming style yoke back black lacquered low chair with square brass sabots in the style of ...
Ash
$2,995
H 30 in W 28.25 in D 27.25 in
Ming Style Black Lacquer & Brass Low Chair After James Mont Scalamandre Zebra
By James Mont, Scalamandre
Located in Topeka, KS
Stunning vintage Ming style yoke back black lacquered low chair with square brass sabots in the style of James Mont. Re-upholstered in El Morocco Espresso f...
Brass
Gilbert Rohde, Slipper Chair, Fabric, Wood, USA, 1940s
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in High Point, NC
A beige fabric and stained wood slipper chair designed by Gilbert rohde and produced by Haywood Wakefield, USA, 1940s. Seat height 16”.
Fabric, Wood
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
Silver Gilt Side Chair Style of Robsjohn-Gibbings
By T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings
Located in New York, NY
Silver gilt side chair style of Robsjohn-Gibbings. Has a leather seat and curved backrest.
Wood
$11,500 / set
H 30.75 in W 28.5 in D 30 in
Swedish Designer, Slipper Chairs, Oak, Fabric, Sweden, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of stained oak and white bouclé fabric slipper lounge chairs designed and produced in Sweden, 1940s. Seat height 16”.
Fabric, Oak
James Mont Dining Chairs (6) Cerused Oak and Silver Leaf
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
James Mont Set of 6 mid-century American Modern dining chairs (1940s) with waxed gray cerused oak hand carved frames, narrow rectangular backs with negtive arched interiors, carved w...
Oak
Pair of High Back Italian Chairs
Located in Brooklyn, NY
beautiful pair of italian chairs in lacquered wood from the 1950's located in NY original condition
Wood, Straw
Tall Column Chair
By Micah Rosenblatt
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Column Chair brings a striking architectural silhouette to any space. Solid steel rods transition into scrolls at the top of the chair, evoking classic ionic columns. The flared ...
Steel
Faux Bamboo Metal Side Chair
By Woodard Furniture Co., Salterini
Located in New York, NY
Voguish metal cafe chair having a faux bamboo metal frame, and metal mesh seat. The chair is in it’s original red/gold paint finish, it is structurall...
Metal
Pair of James Mont Horseshoe Ming Chairs
By Century Furniture, James Mont
Located in Dallas, TX
Pair of James Mont horseshoe Ming style armchairs. Features solid wood construction and beautiful high gloss finish. Circa mid-20th century.
Brass
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 Slipper Chair
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Custom slipper chair by James Mont. Great architectural design of mahogany frame with recent boucle upholstery. This chair is slightly lower than a standard desk chair and a great h...
James Mont Ebonized Lounge Chairs for King Cole Penthouse
By James Mont
Located in Culver City, CA
A stunning pair of lounge chairs designed by James Mont. The chairs are upholstered in a luxurious dove grey velvet and are equally as comfortable as they are beautiful. This cha...
Velvet
Pair of James Mont Side Chairs
By James Mont
Located in East Hampton, NY
Newly lacquered in black and upholstered in grey cashmere/wool.
Bog Wood, Fabric
Sold
H 34 in W 26.25 in D 19 in
Sculptural Pair of Mid-Century Modernist Occasional Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This sculptural pair of occasional chairs by James Mont consist of a "key-hole" style back with a singular centered button and wing-like arms that emulate the form of the back. They ...
Unique Upholstered James Mont Side Chair in Silver Leaf
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Upholstered side chair in wood with silver leaf finish with pierced criss-cross decoration on back. American, c. 1950s
Silver Leaf
Four Stylish James Mont Dining Chairs
By James Mont
Located in Hopewell, NJ
Set of 4 "James Mont" dining chairs. Newly upholstered in neutral linen, nailhead detailing on the back, ebonized wood.
Wood, Upholstery
4 James Mont Dining Chairs
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Wonderful looking James Mont dining chairs with Greek key pattern to the back. One chair has been refinished with a mahogany finish. The other 3 will need to be refinished.
Pair of "Dolphin" Side Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of high back "Dolphin" side chairs by James Mont. These exquisite decorative chairs are newly reupholstered in a beautiful moss-green velvet, accented by large buttons. The base...
Velvet, Wood, Upholstery
Pair of Slipper Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of Camel colored fabric upholstered biscuit tufted slipper chairs by James Mont. The chairs are mounted on black bases.
Wood, Fabric, Upholstery
Pair Of Biscuit Tufted Side Chairs By James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful pair of Biscuit tufted side chairs by JAMES MONT. This elegant pair of chairs are upholstered in a pale taupe fabric and are set on gracefu...
Fabric, Upholstery
Eight Dining Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
A set of eight light cerused oak armless dining chairs by James Mont. Newly upholstered in a colorful silk/cotton blend fabric. Matching Table available.
Oak, Cotton, Silk
A Pair Of Dolphin Chairs By James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
A glamarous pair of high back occasional chairs referred to as the "Dolphin chairs" by JAMES MONT. The chairs are beautifully upholstered in a dove gray ...
Wood
Pair Of Slipper Chairs By James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of slipper chairs by JAMES MONT. The chair bases have beautiful carved detailing to the corners and are in a glazed silver leaf finish, they have been reupholstered in ...
Wood, Mohair, Upholstery