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.
Art Deco Influenced Dining Table by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Art Deco influenced dining table by James Mont. The base is a dark cerused oak finis with ornate carving in the corners finish highlighted with a glazed silver leaf. The top is glas...
Glass, Oak
Silver Leaf Dining Table by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Stamford, CT
A silver leaf over wood dining table by James Mont. Includes two leaves measuring 12" each. Measures: 42" diameter when closed.
Silver Leaf
Art Deco Influenced Dining Table by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in Buffalo, NY
Art Deco influenced dining table by James Mont, stunning design. Retains original cerused green finish, produced in 1940s. Carved leaf details, pierced l...
Wood
French Art Deco Style Dining Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
A French Art Deco mahogany and cerejeira dining table, the circular crossbanded and molded edge top above a sphere and collar column with a turned and dished base. Inspired by a 1930...
Wood
A Dining Table by Formanova, Italy, 1960's
By Forma Nova
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A fantastic dining/center table by Formanova, Italy, 1960's. Mahogany top, brushed stainless steel, base. Super duty-heavy base, great sculptural details.
Steel
Sculpted Dining Table by Jacques Jarrige
By Jacques Jarrige
Located in New York, NY
Solid oak or oak veneer top, oak legs and apron (customizable) By Jacques Jarrige From Jacques Jarrige’s Torquemada series, this sculpted dining table combines a generous scale with...
Oak
Dining Table, Design by Vittorio Dassi, Italy, 1950s
By Vittorio Dassi
Located in Wolfurt, AT
This dining table was designed by Vittorio Dassi in Italy in the 1950s. The table frame is made of rosewood and an antique pink glass top is set i...
Brass
Italian Art Deco Dining Table
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
Italian Art Deco Dining Table This stunning Art Deco dining table, a true masterpiece of Italian craftsmanship from the 1930s. Adorned with exceptional figured walnut and contrastin...
Walnut
$4,620 / item
H 29.53 in W 98.43 in D 39.38 in
Minimalist Brazilian Dining Table "Caroline" by Samuel Lamas
By Samuel Lamas
Located in Brasilia, DF
Caroline Dining Table by Samuel Lamas, 2022 Introducing the Caroline Dining Table, an award-winning piece that embodies the elegance of contemporary Brazilian design. Crafted in a m...
Steel
French Art Deco Dining Table by Jules Leleu, c.1940
By Jules Leleu
Located in Paddock Wood Tonbridge, GB
A striking French Art Deco dining table crafted in rich rosewood, attributed to the renowned designer Jules Leleu. The table showcases his signature balance of sculptural elegance an...
Rosewood
Modern Sunburst Pedestal Dining Table with Leaf
By Dakota Jackson
Located in Chicago, IL
Sleek and sophisticated, this modern dining table brings an elegant simplicity to contemporary interiors. A custom design attributed to the Dakota Jackson Heraldic Collection, the ta...
Wood, Oak
Art Deco Style Dining Table
Located in WEST PALM BEACH, FL
This is a unique Deco style dining table, made of an exotic wood and highly French polished. The top with straight edge is over a wide shaped frieze and raised on slightly curved legs.
Wood
French Art Deco Dining Table by Gaston Poisson
By Gaston Poisson
Located in North Bergen, NJ
Stunning French Art Deco masterpiece dining table is by designer Gaston Poisson. The solid mahogany wood is breathtaking with legs that coordinate with a matching buffet...
Custom Art Deco Macassar Ebony Dining Table by Carrocel
By Carrocel
Located in North York, ON
Custom Art Deco Macassar ebony and burled walnut dining table with polished nickel inlay. Custom made and handcrafted by Carrocel in Toronto Canada. Price includes complimentary cu...
Nickel
Oval Dining Table, Design by Fratelli Turri, Italy, 1950s
By Fratelli Turri
Located in Wolfurt, AT
Dining table designed by Fratelli Turri, Italy, 1950s. An elegant mid-century dining table featuring a base crafted from dark-lacquered solid beech. The tabletop is fitted with an au...
Marble, Brass
James Mont 'Flame' Cinnabar Lacquered Chinoiserie Dining Table, 1952
By James Mont
Located in Brooklyn, NY
James Mont 'Flame' cinnabar lacquered chinoiserie dining table, 1952. James Mont cinnabar lacquered dining table with two leaves. Custom "Flame" finished. Mandarin red. Ming inspi...
Wood
James Mont 'Flame' Cinnabar Lacquered Chinoiserie Dining Table, 1952
By James Mont
Located in Brooklyn, NY
James Mont cinnabar lacquered dining table with two leaves. Custom "Flame" finished. Mandarin red. Ming inspired. Extremely rare to find in such good original condition. Cross base with Asian-inspired carvings. Dimensions - table - 29" x 62" with two leaves - 12" each James Mont (1904-1978), a notorious midcentury designer and interior decorator, counted among his clients, movie stars, the glitterati of the day (Frank Sinatra was a huge fan), as well as filthy rich...
Wood
James Mont Design Signed Gate Leg Table and Pagoda Wall Shelf
By James Mont
Located in Hanover, MA
This is the chicest most stylish little gate-leg table that would be perfect for a pieds-a-terre to use for dining or writing or serving. Crafted by James Mont, this signed "James Mont Design" table is in black cerused oak with exotic modernist styling and comes with a pagoda form ebonized bamboo wall shelf...
Oak
Sold
H 29 in W 48 in D 40 in
James Mont Asian Style Dining Table with Custom Oil Lacquer Finish, 1940s
By James Mont
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Asian style small dining table with single leaf and custom oil lacquer finish by James Mont, American, 1940s.
Wood, Lacquer
James Mont Dining Table
By James Mont
Located in Rochester, NY
Art Deco style large rectangular dining table by James Mont with carved leaf design perimeter at all four sides of top and deep cut-out design on legs. It is in the original green ce...
Exquisite Table by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Exquisite oak rare table by James Mont. This is Mont at his best. Unusual design, wonderful craftsmanship, with high quality decorative carved elements. The table is newly refinishe...
James Mont Dining Table
By James Mont
Located in Hudson, NY
An exceptional James Mont extension table in combed / cerused oak with hand carved Bonsai tree details. The original finish has a nice patina. Leaves are a lighter color due to them ...
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Rare Circular Dining Table by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Flame-red, original custom lacquer finish. Cross base with Asian-inspired carvings. This table is a great example of Mont's unusual custom lacquer finishes. Measures: 2 x 12" ex...
James Mont 1940's Dining Set
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
An original James Mont dining table with eight matching chairs in a light limed oak .
Oak