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 Gilt Hollywood Regency Dressing Table, USA, 1950s
By James Mont
Located in Glasgow, GB
A rare and important gilt dressing table designed by James Mont, produced in the United States in the 1950s. A key figure in American mid-century design, Mont is celebrated for his d...
Platinum, Gold Leaf
Mid-Century Vanity/Writing Desk w/ Carved Bamboo Motif Signed James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This Mid-Century Modernist fold-top vanity/writing desk, designed by legendary American furniture maker James Mont, epitomizes the fusion of elegant design and functional craftsmansh...
Wood, Lacquer
$2,300
H 26.25 in W 59.5 in D 16 in
Mid Century Danish Modern Teak Vanity, Console Table or Low Profile Desk
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A simple modern Scandinavian design from Denmark circa 1970's. This piece features all teak wood construction with generous storage and a unique bowed front. A very versatile piece f...
Teak
$3,215
H 71.26 in W 35.44 in D 13.39 in
Ico Parisi Vanity Dressing Table, Glass & Beech Wood, Italy, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Florence, Tuscany
An extraordinarily elegant dressing table or vanity by Italian designer Ico Parisi. This wonderful piece of furniture has a glass dressing / console table at a height of 90cm below w...
Brass
$5,353
H 31.5 in W 41.34 in D 23.63 in
Mid Century Italian Rattan and Bamboo Desk / Vanity Table Vivai del Sud C.1970
By Vivai del Sud
Located in London, GB
A Vivai del Sud pedestal table Rome, Italy, C.1970. Constructed in in rattan, bamboo and cane. Ideal as a small desk or vanity. The Knee hole width measures 39cm. In excellent condi...
Bamboo, Wicker, Rattan
$2,900 / set
H 48 in W 27.5 in D 18.25 in
Vintage Mid Century Art Deco Vanity or Desk with Mirror in Pine
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A funky art deco vanity with mirror. Solid pine with period deco hardware. Mirror has some small dark spot from age. All in all very good condition. Price includes both vanity & mirr...
Mirror, Pine
Mid-Century African Mahogany Vanity or Desk by E. Gomme for G-Plan
By G-Plan, Ebenezer Gomme
Located in North Hollywood, CA
Mid-century modern vanity/desk designed by E. Gomme for G-Plan in the United Kingdom, circa 1950s. This exquisite vanity is a true masterpiece and features four intricately crafted drawers...
Brass
$3,500
H 33.5 in W 39.25 in D 18 in
Mid Century Danish Teak Dresser Vanity Desk Combo by Borge Mogensen
By Børge Mogensen
Located in Las Vegas, NV
This Danish modern dresser–vanity features classic mid-century lines in warm teak with tapered legs and recessed pulls. The center drop-front opens to create a vanity or desk surface...
Teak
Mid-Century John Stuart Mirrored Vanity Desk with Bench
By John Stuart
Located in Forney, TX
A rare Mid-Century Modern painted white mirrored vanity desk and bench by legendary American luxury designer John Stuart. Circa 1950 The sensational John Stuart designed demilune ...
Leather, Wood
Mid Century Waterfall Vanity/Desk and Stool Springer Style
By Karl Springer
Located in W Allenhurst, NJ
Fabulous period piece. Timeless waterfall designed vanity with matching stool in the manner of Karl Springer. Formica burl surface with front mirrored band. Center drawer. Compliment...
Upholstery, Mirror, Formica
$9,500
H 29.5 in W 44.5 in D 25.75 in
Important Beau Brummell Regency Period Flame Mahogany Gentleman's Dressing Table
Located in Forney, TX
A rare and spectacular George III period (1760-1820) Beau Brummell gentleman's dressing table. There is no mistaking this remarkably distinctive table's complex design and superb quality, which is certain to attract attention, add interest, and become a conversational talking point wherever you place it. Metamorphic like, the multipurpose piece transforming from a library table or console - vanity - work table - writing desk) Refined elegant sophistication at its finest, born in late 18th / early 19th century at the height of the George III Regency period, also known as the golden age of classical English furniture design. Exquisitely hand-crafted of the finest mahogany, having a rectangular top with warm, rich, highly figured swirl - flame mahogany, contrasting satinwood string banding and intricate cross-banded inlays, covered with an optional later glass top, above a trio of drawers affixed with beautiful gilt brass lion pull hardware, the center drawer opening to reveal a divided interior fitted with numerous compartments, richly grained mahogany veneered lids, and a lovely Worcester porcelain desk set. Above the drawer a pull-out panel with inset green felt functions as both a writing - work surface extension and brushing slide. Flanking the main drawer, a pair of drawers slide-outward and open to reveal brass hinged large panel mirrors that can also be used to double the work surface, when lifted the mirrors can rotate and additional lidded storage compartments are revealed, including a pin cushion for sewing, horse hair bristle brush, and divided slots coin compartment. Having elegant clean lines, simple apron, highest-quality reinforced drawers to support the additional weight and allow them to fully extend, all rising on tapered square legs, terminating in patinated brass capped feet with casters. Dimensions: (approx) 29.5" High, 44.5" Wide, 25.75" Deep (table form) Provenance: From the Collection of Gloria Monnet Nicholson, Tulsa, Oklahoma Acquisition: Acquired from highly reputable auction house Heritage Auctions, Dallas, Texas. June 2022 Fine Furniture & Decorative Arts Signature Auction #8085 catalog. Who was Beau Brummell: George Bryan "Beau" Brummell (1778–1840) was an important figure in Regency England and, for many years, the arbiter...
Brass
$2,400
H 34.26 in W 33.86 in D 24.02 in
Dutch Mid-Century Modern Solid Birch Vanity Desk by Everest Furniture, 1950s
By Everest
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Unusual and rare modernist vanity desk produced in the Netherlands by Everest Furniture early 1950s. Solid birch frame and, veneered plywood and exotic wood (Wenge) details in the...
Birch, Teak, Wenge, Plywood
Art Deco British Burr Walnut Dressing Chest, 1950s
Located in South Shields, GB
An Art Deco walnut dressing chest from Beithcraft - circa 1950's Featuring a tfull length adjustable mirror Height to the top of the mirror is 157cm The matching tallboy is listed ...
Wood, Walnut
$5,572
H 30.32 in W 33.47 in D 17.72 in
Mid Century Modern 'Positano 1306' Dressing Table by Ico & Luisa Parisi, 1950s
By Ico Parisi
Located in Brussels, BE
Mid Century Modern 'Positano 1306' Dressing Table by Ico & Luisa Parisi, 1958.
Wood
James Mont Silver Leafed Vanity / Desk
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Elegant glazed silver leafed vanity / desk by James Mont. The vanity has been newly restored with a glazed silver leaf finish and the bench has been newly reupholstered in a taupe ...
Wood
ELEGANT VANITY / CONSOLE TABLE BY JAMES MONT
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Elegant vanity with a dark cerused oak finish by JAMES MONT.
The vanity has very clean and simple lines with two mirror imaged side cabinets which are supported by tappered le...
Wood