Curtis Jeré Bookends
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.
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Gold, Iron
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron, Gold Leaf
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron, Gold Leaf
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Quartz, Bronze
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Quartz, Copper
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Onyx, Metal
1970s Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Onyx, Brass
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Curtis Jeré Bookends
Brass, Nickel
2010s Minimalist Curtis Jeré Bookends
Marble
1960s Austrian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Brass
21st Century and Contemporary American Art Deco Curtis Jeré Bookends
Brass
2010s Minimalist Curtis Jeré Bookends
Marble
Mid-20th Century Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Brass
2010s Brazilian Organic Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Agate, Quartz
Late 20th Century Moorish Curtis Jeré Bookends
Porcelain
1970s Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Brass
1950s British Hollywood Regency Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Brass
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Bronze
20th Century Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Ceramic
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Onyx, Copper
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Hollywood Regency Curtis Jeré Bookends
Cut Steel, Gold Leaf
20th Century American Hollywood Regency Curtis Jeré Bookends
Cut Steel, Gold Leaf
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron, Gold Leaf
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Aluminum
1970s American Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Bronze
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Metal
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Iron, Gold Leaf
Late 20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Bookends
Metal, Copper
1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Bookends
Metal