Curtis Jeré Busts
Though the name Curtis Jeré is familiar to many as the maker of ebullient and eccentric modern design from the 1960s and ‘70s, relatively few are aware that it is a pseudonym for the design team of Curtis Freiler and Jerry Fels. Together, the two created some of the most striking and vivid furnishings and decorative objects of their era, from sculptures and dynamically framed mirrors, to lighting and wall decorations.
New Yorkers Freiler and Fels had collaborated for two decades on small jewelry lines before launching a design company called Artisan House in 1964. They combined variants of their names to create an artful persona — sometimes shortened to C. Jeré; the "surname" is pronounced with a rising inflection: jhayr-EH — that stood behind large-scale decorative metalwork, marked by semi-abstract petal forms with burnt and brazed edges. Fels served as head of design, and Freiler, known for his keen handiwork, was the production chief. The pair’s eclectic metalwork has captivated decorative art collectors and interior designers ever since.
The work of Curtis Jeré displays a sense of playfulness and curiosity, while drawing on inspirations and themes that include flowers, discs, geometric forms and animal figures. Freiler and Fels had a masterful ability to work with different materials, such as patinated brass and brilliant chrome.
The price of a Curtis Jeré mirror, lamp, wall-mounted sculpture or tabletop sculpture can range from $400 to $12,000, depending on the size, the rarity of the piece, the intricacy of the metalwork and the materials used in its construction. Other factors like condition can affect the perceived value and, thus, the cost of works by Curtis Jeré.
As you will see on 1stDibs, the imaginative powers of the designers of Curtis Jeré pieces were boundless, and their creations will add a dash of verve in any room.
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Busts
Metal
1980s American Post-Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Busts
Stone, Onyx, Marble, Metal, Aluminum, Brass, Chrome
20th Century American Curtis Jeré Busts
Marble, Brass
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Busts
Brass
1970s Vintage Curtis Jeré Busts
Metal
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Busts
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Busts
Marble, Metal
Late 20th Century American Post-Modern Curtis Jeré Busts
Marble, Aluminum, Brass
1990s North American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Busts
Marble, Brass
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Busts
Marble, Brass
Late 20th Century American Brutalist Curtis Jeré Busts
Metal
Late 20th Century American Modern Curtis Jeré Busts
Marble, Metal
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Busts
Onyx, Brass, Enamel
