A silver leaf and glass coffee table by James Mont, c. 1950.  The table is silver leaf over underlays of lavender and black and features a platform base and two plinth supports. Each support is cut to accommodate a thick glass slab that slides through the two plinths to create a dramatic top to the table.  Each side panel is decorated on both sides with 19th century carved Chinese elements in naturalistic forms: the interior sides with a flower bouquet, and the exterior sides with birds on branches.  Mont gilded and antiqued the appliqués then set them in a carved frame.  James Mont hired the finest craftsmen for his 5-story workshop on 57th Street in New York City where each floor was dedicated to a specific construction or finishing process.  Mont perfected his labor-intensive gilding process while jailed at the infamous Sing Sing prison and thus dedicated an entire floor to this lengthy process. Base coats in various colors were layered under the meticulously applied silver or gold leaf to add a hint of color.  Lastly, several layers of lacquer were applied (sometimes upwards of twenty layers); he used clear lacquer but also favored his smoked lacquer technique.  This coffee table exemplifies the craftsmanship and detailing Mont adamantly required in his furniture.

Mint Restored Condition  22 H 65 L 16.5 D (56 H 165 L 42 D cm)