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.
$9,600Sale Price|20% Off
Art Deco Hollywood Regency Sideboard Credenza by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Chic Art Deco, Hollywood Regency sideboard, credenza, server by noted master of the genre, James Mont. This example features a faux tortoise lacquered exterior, with unexpected ( exc...
Wood
Original James Mont Cabinet in Asian Style
By James Mont
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
Rare cabinet by James Mont in chinoiserie style. Original black lacquer and red painted interior. Original gilded wood handles.
Mahogany
Large Rare Fish Cabinet by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This exquisite large cabinet is by James Mont. The cabinet is a beautiful cerused oak and has a slight trapezoidal shape. In the centre of the cabinet there is a wonderful fish medallion which when pushed the rotating door...
Wood
Mid-Century Sideboard in Black Lacquer with Greek Key Detail by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This stunning Mid-Century Modern black lacquer sideboard was realized by the legendary designer James Mont in the United States circa 1950. The hind legs of the piece are straight, v...
Glass, Lacquer
James Mont Carved Bamboo Wall Cabinet. ( 2 Available )
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Stunning 1950's carved Bamboo wall cabinet by James Mont in Excellent original condition. The open grain cerused finished oak cabinet displays the beautifully carved bamboo silver le...
Silver Leaf
James Mont, Dresser, Wood, USA, 1940s
By James Mont
Located in High Point, NC
A wood dresser designed and produced by James Mont, USA, c. 1940s. Originally from a James Mont interior.
Wood
Blue / Black Cerused Oak Cabinet with Carved Bamboo Motif by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Stunning cabinet by James Mont. It is finished in a glamorous blue black cerused oak, and the small pedestals at each end have a gilded carved bamboo motif.
Wood
Stunning Large Black Lacquered Cabinet by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular James Mont branded black lacquer chest of drawers with raised edges. Gold leafed raised draw pulls and four luxuriously deep draws of 8" each.
Gold Leaf
Glamorous Mirrored Cabinet with Caryatids by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Glamorous mirrored cabinet with hand-carved caryatids by James Mont. The casework is finished in antiqued glazed silver leaf, with panels of antiqued mirror.
Glass, Wood
Signed James Mont Sideboard in Black Lacquer W/ Gilded Wood Pulls
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This sideboard, signed by the illustrious 20th century designer James Mont, has an impact rarely seen. Bold and forward facing, this sideboard is beautifully restored in gleaming Bla...
Gold Leaf
$19,500 / set
Spectacular Pair of Rare James Mont Scroll Cabinets
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Beautifully executed pair of James Mont cabinets with scroll handles. The cabinets have been Newly restored in a glazed silver leaf finish and are branded "JAMES MONT DESIGN".
Wood
Signed James Mont Design Pagoda Cocktail Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
Signed "James Mont Design" 1950's 'Chinese Modern' pagoda-form band rubbed black lacquered cocktail bar cabinet with mirror and red lacquer interior...
Wood
$11,200Sale Price|30% Off
James Mont Console Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE Blonde polished lacquer console cabinet by James Mont (1904-1978), the father of "exotic modernism" who introduced "orientalis...
Wood
James Mont Mirrored Cabinet, 1950s
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional 1950s mirrored cabinet by James Mont. This beautifully executed mirrored cabinet has a hand-carved deeply beveled silver leaf and burnish frame. The cabinet features fou...
$2,560Sale Price|34% Off
James Mont Chin Hua Hollywood Regency Buffet Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in Pasadena, TX
Chin Hua inspired buffet or cabinet designed by James Mont. Ebonized oak with silver leaf detailing. Four center drawers with carved pulls and two side doors with shelved storage.
Silver Leaf
$10,360Sale Price|20% Off
Modern Console Table Credenza by James Mont, circa 1960, USA
By James Mont
Located in North York, ON
Modern Console Table Credenza by James Mont, circa 1960s, USA. Masterfully restored by the artisans at Carrocel in a semi-gloss white lacquered finish with hand painted gold accents....
Gold Leaf
James Mont for Widdicomb Black Chests of Drawers, a Pair
By John Widdicomb, James Mont
Located in Hudson, NY
Two sultry ebonized chests by James Mont for John Widdicomb. Two over three drawers open with statement rectangular pulls in gleaming brass. So versatile! Use them as nightstands or ...
Brass
Exceptional 1950's James Mont Mirrored Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional 1950s mirrored cabinet by James Mont. This beautifully executed mirrored cabinet has a hand carved deeply beveled silver leaf and burnish frame. The cabinet features fou...
Mirror
Large Bamboo Dresser by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Large bamboo detailed dresser by James Mont. This large 2-piece cabinet has been restored in a natural driftwood finish and is in excellent condition and is accented by the beautifu...
Wood
Spectacular James Mont Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular James Mont cabinet Newly restored in a stunning high gloss lacquered finish. The cabinet features two center doors with adjustable interior shelves and six side drawers....
Softwood
James Mont Silver Leafed Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Beautiful brushed glazed silver leaf cabinet by James Mont. The cabinet has been totally restored to the original finish. The bell shaped metal handles open the doors to an interio...
Silver Leaf
$22,000 / set
Pair of James Mont Oak Front Cabinets
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Stunning pair of cabinets by James Mont. The newly refinished black satin cabinets are set off by wonderful oak patchwork door fronts. One cabinet has four interior drawers and the...
Wood, Oak
$10,325Sale Price|30% Off
James Mont Console Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE Grand scale console cabinet in hand rubbed black lacquer finish by James Mont (1904-1978), the "godfather of exotic modernism" who introduced "orientalism" into Americ...
Hardwood
Iconic Bamboo Style Dresser by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Large bamboo dresser designed by James Mont. This is a beautiful example of his iconic bamboo style. The casework is of Cerused oak and it has been newly refinished with the bamboo...
Oak
$18,000 / set
James Mont Chinoiserie Bamboo Dressers
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of mint restored bleached/cerused oak dressers with chinoiserie inspired carved bamboo trim with an aged silver leaf finish. Stamped James Mont Designs. Each chest has 3 drawers. On display at 200 Lexington...
Silver Leaf
Minimalist Cabinet by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Stunning Minimalist cabinet by James Mont. The cabinet has been refinished in a high gloss white lacquer. The lacquered doors are accented by the silver leaf "X" door pulls.
Lacquer
$6,230Sale Price|30% Off
James Mont Cinnabar Lacquered Secretaire
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
SATURDAY SALE Extremely rare, possibly one of a kind, secretary cabinet with bookcase by the godfather of exotic modernism, James Mont, circa 1950. Hand rubbed cinnabar lacquered...
Wood
James Mont Design, Signed, Pencil Reed Trapezoidal Cabinet
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
James Mont Design, signed, trapezoidal single door cabinet in pencil reed, suitable as nightstand or side cabinet. Circa 1948. Measures 24" H x 24"...
Reed
James Mont Combed Oak KOI Credenza, Signed
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Rare, made to order Koi cabinet featuring solid oak construction which has a custom white/sand cerused, wire brush finish. Cabinet features 4 large deep dr...
Oak
Rare Pair of Decorator Mid-Century Modern 3-Drawer Dressers by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Rockaway, NJ
Pair of Mid-Century Modern decorator signed dressers or bachelor chests by James Mont. Silver drawer fronts with large ball shape pulls. Heavy solid birch waved shape block drawer f...
Birch
Large Bamboo Dresser by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Large bamboo detailed dresser by James Mont. This large 2-piece cabinet has been restored in a natural driftwood finish and is in Excellent condition and is accented by the beautifu...
Wood
Pair of Elegant James Mont Cerused Custom Cabinet /Nightstand Chests
By James Mont
Located in Westport, CT
Pair of oak cerused James Mont petite three-drawer chest / nightstand cabinets with original bronze finish ring.
Metal
$20,000Sale Price|20% Off
Magnificent James Mont Goldfish Medallion Trapezoid Credenza Mid-Century Modern
By James Mont
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Magnificent James Mont goldfish medallion credenza. We just love the unusual trapezoid shape along with the newer silver lacquered finish-well done! James Mont (1904-1978), a noto...
Oak
Ultra Rare Vintage Cerused Chest of Drawers from James Mont
By James Mont
Located in North Canton, OH
Extraordinary Find. Ultra Rare Cerused Chest the cream lacquered drawer fronts by James Mont. Beautiful piece. Signed.
Lacquer