Curtis Jeré Lowboys
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.
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Iron
Mid-20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Iron
1950s Vintage Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Late 20th Century American Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Bamboo, Glass
1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Marble, Steel
Mid-20th Century French Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Ceramic
1930s Hungarian Art Deco Vintage Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Beech, Bentwood
1750s English George II Antique Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Walnut
2010s Italian Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Leather, Fiberglass
20th Century Chippendale Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Brass
18th Century British George II Antique Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Oak
20th Century American Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Leather, Bamboo, Rattan, Glass
18th Century English George III Antique Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Oak, Pine
1740s English Queen Anne Antique Curtis Jeré Lowboys
Brass
