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 Architectural Side Table
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Architectural side table by James Mont. Square side table with Architectural column details and banded with a Greek Key trim. The table ret...
Gold Leaf
James Mont Pair of Mid-Century Bedside Tables, Rectangular, 1950s-70s
By James Mont
Located in Queens, NY
PAIR of American Mid-Century beside tables with a rectangular molding design on the front resting on a pedestal base (PRICED AS PAIR) (JAMES MONT)
Wood
James Mont Occasional Pedestal Table Black Laquer
By James Mont
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
An original James Mont, signed table in black lacquer, ca' 1950's. Very heavy, looks like a sculpture.
Wood
$2,619 / set
H 21.26 in W 19.69 in D 12.21 in
Midcentury Modern Mahogany Bedside Tables, Sweden, 1950s
Located in Östermalm, Stockholms län
Pair of elegant bedside tables, made from mahogany with dramatic veneer on the fronts. Decorative round brass handles. Practical shelves under the drawers.
Brass
Classic Narrow Side Table, Drift White
Located in Westwood, NJ
Classic narrow rectangle side table with two drawers, brass hardware, and tapered feet, with a “rustic” warm walnut finish with subtle visual distressing and hand-rubbed finish. D...
Wood
Classic Three-Tier Side Table, Mahogany Finish
Located in Westwood, NJ
Classic three-tier side table. A small rectangle tiered end table with two shelves, and tapered feet, has a "country" wood mahogany stain with natural highlights. Dimensions: 22" ...
Wood
Maison Bagues Rectangular Side Table
By Maison Baguès
Located in Miami, FL
Maison Bagues rectangular side table 2 tiers, 1st tiers height: 8 in Bronze ans brass, gold cloudy mirror.
Brass, Bronze
Modern Dutch Side Table
Located in Westwood, NJ
Modern Neo Classic Dutch walnut side table with hewn 'hazel' walnut finish and brass feet. Inspired by an early 19th-century Dutch table, this modern interpretation sits well amongst...
Wood
Pair of Bedside Tables / Side Tables in Ash, 1950's
By NK (Nordiska Kompaniet)
Located in Limhamn, Skåne län
Pair of Bedside Tables / Side Tables in Ash, 1950's Additional Information: Material: Ash Style: Mid century, Scandinavian Produced by NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) in Sweden Dimensions (...
Ash
Severin Hansen Rosewood Bedside Tables, 1950s
By Haslev Mobelsnedkeri, Severin Hansen
Located in London, England
Severin Hansen - Side Tables or Nightstands, circa 1960 A pair of bedside tables with a single, slim drawer. Produced by Haslev Mobelsnedkeri, Denmark in figured rosewood veneer. M...
Rosewood
James End Table Oak White
Located in Cincinnati, US
Seemingly defying the laws of nature, this Danish-inspired design is composed of a razor thin metal top covered with oak veneer, atop an elegant wire base. The warmth of the wood grain adds a level of complexity balancing the minimalist base for a table that will leave your guests intrigued and your mama proud she raised someone with such good style. The offset base conveniently slides under the sofa making it the perfect accessory for those who have ditched the traditional desk...
Metal
Classic Three-Tier Side Table, Greyed
Located in Westwood, NJ
Classic three-tier side table. A small rectangle tiered end table with two shelves, and tapered feet, has a "rabbit" finish showing slight grain accents. Dimensions: 22" W x 14" D...
Wood
$3,167Sale Price / set|20% Off
H 20.48 in Dm 19.69 in
Pair of French Mid-Century Side Tables Brass Bamboo Design White Marble Top 70s
Located in Salzburg, AT
These two decorative small tables have a slightly conical base, which gives the whole thing a fine sophistication. The legs have a slight rib which corresponds to a bamboo look. Th...
Marble, Brass
Pair of Italian 1950s Side Tables
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Italian pair of side tables, rosewood and the top is glass mirror. Bottom of the legs are the brass boots. Side tables are in original condition as shown on the photos. we recommend ...
Brass
$4,475
H 26 in Dm 24 in
Art Deco Machine Age Three-Tier Occasional Table w/ Fluted Black Lacquer Support
Located in New York, NY
This elegant Art Deco machine age occasional table was realized in the United States circa 1935. It features three asymmetrically spaced tiers of beautiful bookmatched walnut connect...
Walnut, Lacquer
Sold
H 24.5 in W 29 in D 13.5 in
James Mont Mid Century Modern Mahogany & Glass Top Art Deco Nesting Side Tables
By James Mont
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage James Mont Mid Century Modern Mahogany & Glass Top Art Deco Nesting Side Tables. Item features black glass tops, graduating size, very rare vintage set, clean modernist lines...
Glass, Mahogany
Sold
H 27 in W 24 in D 22 in
Mid-Century Black Lacquer Geometric Cutout Occasional Table by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
This sleek and strikingly designed Mid-Century Modernist Geometric Cutout Support Occasional Table in Black Lacquer is by the esteemed furniture designer James Mont and originates fr...
Lacquer
Pr. Hollywood Regency End or Side Tables by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Chic pair of end, or side tables designed by James Mont. Quintessential Asia Modern, Chinese influenced voguish Hollywood Regency sophistication, the tables are structurally sound an...
Wood
Pair of Custom Side Tables / Nightstands by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of custom Asian influenced side tables / nightstands by James Mont. The tables each have a pullout tray top and retain there original combed gilded finish which is in great con...
Wood
Pair of Mirrored Top Side Tables by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
A pair of elegant side tables by James Mont, circa 1950s. Featuring X-shape sides and mirrored tops.
Mahogany
James Mont Pagoda Step Table
By James Mont
Located in Philadelphia, PA
James Mont Pagoda step table in distressed gold and silver leaf finish.
Gold Leaf
James Mont Round Side Table
By James Mont
Located in Philadelphia, PA
James Mont round side table in distressed gold leaf poly-chrome finish (rare in it's original condition).
Wood
Signed James Mont Asian Style Two-Tone End Tables, circa 1940s
By James Mont
Located in Peabody, MA
Pair of end tables, signed "James Mont Designs". Mahogany top with contrasting lacquered base with fretwork legs in an Asian inspired style.
Mahogany, Wood
Glass and Mirror Side Table Signed James Mont Designs, 1940s
By James Mont
Located in Hamburg, PA
An Asian inspired black lacquered occasional, end or side table signed by James Mont designs underside. Table has mirrored glass on bottom shelf and...
Glass, Mirror, Wood
James Mont 1940s Side Table
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
1940s glamorous side table by famed American designer, James Mont. The table is in a medium brown painted finish with reddish undertones.
Sold
H 27.5 in W 36 in D 12.75 in
Pair of James Mont Three-Tier Pagoda Shelves and Side Tables in Silver Leaf
By James Mont
Located in Astoria, NY
A pair of vintage three-tier pagoda style shelves and side tables, produced circa 1950's by designer James Mont, in wood base, gilded in silver leaf. Markings include artist's signat...
Silver Leaf
Pair of Spectacular Mirrored End Tables by James Mont
By James Mont
Located in New York, NY
Pair of spectacular end tables by James mont. The tables are fully mirrored, with a celadon silver leafed urn shaped support. Note the slanted side edges, which give the design a bea...
Wood