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 Camouflage Gilt Geometric Chair
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
James Mont unusual art deco geometric side chair finished in hand gilt silver and gold leaf in a camouflage pattern. Seat upholstered in dove gray suede. If you would like us to reco...
Gold Leaf, Silver Leaf
$2,800
James Mont Dolphin Chair
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
James Mont "Dolphin" tall-back slipper chair, designed late 1950's, covered in button-tufted black high pile velour. This distinctive Mont original design is a curved tapering wing ...
Upholstery, Wood
$12,500 / set
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 James Mont Slipper Chairs
By James Mont
Located in Dallas, TX
Pristine pair of black lacquered James Mont low chairs with mohair.
Mohair, Upholstery, Wood
Pair of James Mont Style Lacquered Horseshoe Chairs by Century
By James Mont, Century Furniture
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
$16,631 / set
H 27.56 in W 17.72 in D 19.69 in
Pair of Gerrit Rietveld Steltman chairs - Netherlands, 1963
By Gerrit Rietveld
Located in London, GB
Gerrit Rietveld (1888–1964) was a key figure in the De Stijl movement, known for his radical use of geometry, line, and primary colour. A trained cabinetmaker, he brought a sculptura...
Pine
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
$4,950
H 30 in W 25.5 in D 30 in
One of A Kind Sculptural Solid Brass and Grey Tweed Fabric Accent Chair, Italy
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional and rare, this one-of-a-kind sculptural lounge chair is a unique piece handcrafted in Florence, Italy. Featuring a gracefully contoured silhouette, the chair is constructed from solid brass with a warm soft patina that exudes warmth and sophistication. The deep, single form, scooped seat and back are upholstered in a richly textured grey tweed fabric, offering both comfort and refined visual contrast. Elegant tapered legs with brass cross bars for support and a curved brass shell evoke iconic mid-century Italian design, reinterpreted with a modern sensibility. Meticulously crafted by hand, this chair is not only a functional seating piece but also a statement of design artistry. Its bold form and luxurious materials make it ideal as a standalone accent. A unique work of art. On display at the Gallery at 200 Lex...
Brass
$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
$15,500 / set
H 31 in W 34 in D 31 in
Baker Ivory Satin Slipper Chairs Attributed to Michael Taylor, circa 1950s, Pair
By Baker Furniture Company, Michael Taylor, James Mont
Located in Saint Louis, MO
An absolutely jaw-dropping pair of meticulous Mid-Century Modern Hollywood Regency lounge chairs in original tufted ivory satin from a boutique series produced by Baker Furniture, circa 1960. Extremely rare Baker Furniture chairs in the style of James Mont. Stout, expertly crafted ebonized solid mahogany construction. This fabulous design is routinely attributed to the work of the esteemed Michael Taylor. The unmistakable look of old money...
Satin, Mahogany
Pair of Slipper Chairs in the style of James Mont.
Located in Stamford, CT
A pair of slipper chairs in the style of James Mont.
Wood
$2,246Sale Price|25% Off
H 30 in W 28.25 in D 27.25 in
Ming Style Black Lacquer & Brass Low Chair After James Mont Scalamandre Zebra
By Scalamandre, James Mont
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
By Gilbert Rohde
Located in Lyndhurst, NJ
The Gilbert Rohde slipper chair designed for Herman Miller, having an upholstered round seat supporting a separate upholstered back all on four turned legs.
Upholstery
Large Scale Pair of Post Modern Slipper Chairs
By Weiman Preview Furniture, Preview
Located in Las Vegas, NV
Incredible and large, pair of post modern slipper chairs on a plinth bases. These beauties truly have lines worth coveting. Kept as found, in their off white Damask stripe fabric. ...
Fabric
$600 / item
H 31 in W 30.5 in D 25 in
James Mont Hollywood Regency Style Chinoiserie Lounge Chairs, 1970's
By Century Furniture, James Mont
Located in Lambertville, NJ
James Mont Style horseshoe Chinoiserie accent lounge chairs. These Hollywood Regency style chairs feature beautiful honey wood curved fra...
Brass
$3,700 / set
H 32 in W 24 in D 29.5 in
Vintage Grosfeld House Ebonized Wood, Upholstered Side or Slipper Chairs MCM
By Grosfeld House
Located in North Miami, FL
These elegant vintage Grosfeld House Hollywood Regency side or slipper chairs have an unusual beaded wood detail, that is pierced carvings to the apron of the front of the chairs. Th...
Upholstery, Wood
Pair of James Mont Bench Made Slipper Chairs
By James Mont
Located in West Hartford, CT
Elegant pair of newly upholstered in a nubby gray fabric James Mont bench made chairs. A matching pair. The legs are tapered down and very stylish. A...
Fabric, Textile, 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...
Elegant Pair of Slipper Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Elegant pair of slipper chairs by James Mont. The chairs have been newly reupholstered in a silvery gray velvet fabric and each is accompanied by a separate back cushion.
Velvet
James Mont Slipper Chair
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Elegant slipper chair by James Mont. The chair is newly reupholstered in a Rich Red Mohair fabric and sits on a black lacquered base.
Upholstery, Wood
James Mont Tufted Slipper Chairs
By James Mont
Located in Chicago, IL
Pair of tufted slipper chairs by James Mont. Newly upholstered in silk velvet.
Pair of Wonderful Slipper Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of exquisite slipper chairs by James Mont. The backs are tufted and they are newly reupholstered in a beautiful silvery silk velvet.
Wood
Pair of Glamorous Chairs by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of glamorous chairs with channel backs by James Mont. The chairs are newly reupholstered in a lovely silvery gray nubby fabric, and are on bl...
Upholstery, Wood
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 James Mont Slipper Chairs
By James Mont
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
James Mont pair of slipper chairs in the asian modern taste. Frame has been refinished in the original midnight blue lacquer, New Black upholstery.
Wood, 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
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