When Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman met and married in Detroit in 1948, they began a seven-decade love affair and creative partnership that would have a major impact on the aesthetic of California mid-century modernism.
At the time, Jerome was a charismatic World War II veteran, Evelyn a young assistant at Luce Lipton Interior Design Studio, where he first spied her folding fabric samples and presented her with a Milky Way bar.
Working out of their studio in Los Angeles, where they moved in 1952 to be part of California’s burgeoning design scene, the two would produce handcrafted case pieces, tapestries and other decorative objects in a variety of media, including ceramics, textiles, carved wood, mosaics and enamel.
The multifaceted pair collaborated with firms and designers such as Victor Gruen; Skidmore, Owings & Merrill; Paul McCobb; Steve Chase; and Arthur Elrod, an incredibly influential talent whose own clients included Frank and Lucille Capra, Hoagy Carmichael, Claudette Colbert, and more.
The Ackermans’ prolific body of work is distinguished by a hand-wrought sense of warmth and texture; a mix of folk art — like figuration and colorful abstraction; depictions of flowers, animals, children and mythical figures; and a belief in the Bauhaus principles of design. These days, their oeuvre proves very much in demand, and the Ackermans, in the tradition of husband-and-wife creators like the Eameses and Les Lalanne, rank among the most influential design couples in history.
Evelyn considered her Stories from the Bible, comprised of 40 individual cloisonné squares, each depicting a different tale from the Old Testament, to be her most challenging and gratifying piece. She worked on it every day for a year and half, completing the composition — which was acquired by the Smithsonian Museum — in 1985.
Evelyn died in 2012 at age 88, while Jerome, known as Jerry, died in 2019. A testament to the renewed interest in their work, Pointed Leaf Press published Hand-in-Hand, Ceramics, Mosaics, Tapestries, and Woodcarvings by California Mid-Century Designers Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman in 2014, the first book to document the lives and careers of the couple.
Find vintage Evelyn Ackerman wall decorations and other furniture on 1stDibs.
Evelyn Ackerman Cityscape Tapestry
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Highland, IN
A lovely tapestry by Evelyn Ackerman in vivid warm hues, this piece interprets a cityscape as abstract blocks of color. We believe the title of this piece is "Byzantia". 33.5"h X ...
Wool
$2,125 / item
Midcentury Cabinet Top Set of Drawers
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Evelyn Ackerman
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
For your consideration are these simply beautiful miniature set of drawers featuring black walnut and brass pulls. The cabinet was crafted in Finland an...
Brass
Rare Hydastone “Flora de Madera” Panel by Evelyn Ackerman, 1960s
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Oceanside, US
A rare Flora de Madera wall panel by renowned California designer Evelyn Ackerman, produced by ERA Industries in the 1960s. This sculptural bas-relief depicts a stylized female figure holding a flower, surrounded by Ackerman’s signature geometric border—an iconic example of mid-century West Coast modernism. What sets this piece apart is its Hydastone construction—a high-strength, gypsum-based casting material used for a limited number of Ackerman’s panels...
Cement, Other
$1,225Sale Price|30% Off
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Art Flora de Madera Era Industries 1963
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Stafford, TX
Beautiful wood carving in great overall condition as seen. See photos for details. Message with questions.
Walnut
Evelyn Ackerman Large Scale Wood Carved Panel for Era Industries
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Large scale wood carved panel by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman for Era Industries c.1960s. This carving features various nature themes like the sun, trees, fish, birds and leav...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman 'Horsemen' Wood Carved Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1964, USA. This plaque features five mounted horsemen. Dimensions 39" width x 1" depth x 9.25" height. Condition Good vintage...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Carved Redwood Panel for Panelcarve, circa 1950s
By Panelcarve, Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Cathedral City, CA
Evelyn Ackerman Carved Redwood Panel for Panelcarve, circa 1950s. Features a bird, ram and frog in typical Ackerman style. Measures 36" wide, 12" high and 1" deep. Stamped "copyrig...
Wood
Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman for ERA Industries — Hand-Painted Hydrastone Sculptures
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Oceanside, US
Hand-painted hydrastone figure by Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman for ERA Industries, produced in the 1960s–1970s. Fully marked on the underside, this piece is part of the Ackermans’ highly...
Stone
Carved Oak Wood Panel by Evelyn Ackerman ERA Industries
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Southampton, NJ
A beautiful and rare dark oak carved panel by renowned artist Evelyn Ackerman for ERA Industries. Marked “EA” in the lower right corner and stamped “ERA Industries” on the back, this...
Oak
Set of Eight Evelyn Ackerman Carved Redwood Panels
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Beautiful and rare vintage set of (8) Evelyn Ackerman carved Redwood panels with animals and people. Designed and manufactured by Era Industries in conju...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman ERA Signed Mid-Century Modern Woven Floral Tapestry Wall Hanging
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic work by famed Mid-Century Modern designer Evelyn Ackerman. Bright and intensely colorful with an elegant design. Evelyn, along with her husband Jerome, began her care...
Nylon
$6,550 / set
Set of Ten Evelyn Ackerman Carved Oak Panels
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in LOS ANGELES, CA
Beautiful and rare vintage set of (10) Evelyn Ackerman carved Oak panels Designed and manufactured by ERA Industries in conjunction with Panelcarve by Ackerman in the 1970s. Solid Oa...
Oak
$5,600Sale Price|20% Off
H 44 in W 39.5 in D 17 in
Antique French Louis XV Style Marble Top Commode Cabinet
Located in North York, ON
Exquisite antique king wood with bronze mounts in Louis XV style. This Commode is in excellent original condition. Featuring beautiful brass or...
Marble, Brass
$4,475
H 43.31 in W 30.32 in D 23.63 in
Large Antique Wooden Carved Black Forest Baroque Stag Head with 10 Point Trophy
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Large Antique Wooden Carved Black Forest Baroque stag head with 10 Point Trophy A large antique Black Forest baroque stag head. Carved in typical abstract style of the early 18th century. It is mounted on a wooden carved and painted plaque with emblem and foliages and features a large real stag antler trophy. The head still has its original polycrome painted finish witch is partly restored. The left side of the plaque has been replaced. A great individual piece which enhances every wall decoration. A special way to present hunting trophies is to attach them to carved animal heads. This tradition exists since the Middle Ages. Even after intensive investigations, it is not yet possible to explain exactly how this happened. The carved heads are often colored and mounted on cartouches that are also carved and painted. They follow a naturalistic representation and one could think that in this way they are symbolically brought back from the abstraction of dead antlers into liveliness. Famous artists to be named are Madl in Ichenhausen, Germany and Heissl in Ebensee, Austria. Around 1900, the antler collection...
Antler
$680
H 11.75 in W 5.75 in D 5.75 in
Black Forest Folk Art Carved Wood Deer Head with Glass Eyes, 19th Century
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A great looking hand carved original wooden Folk Art deer head wall decoration. A great piece for a suitable ambiance in a trophy room or the office of ...
Glass, Wood
$180 / set
H 3.75 in W 4 in D 2.25 in
Pair of Petite Wood Carved Cherub Angel Heads, Vintage German 1960s
Located in Nuernberg, DE
A pair beautiful petite hand carved cherub angel Heads, found at an estate sale in Germany. Made by a woodcarver in the Tyrollean Area in Austria, this area is well-known for their w...
Wood
$7,226
H 80.32 in W 60.24 in D 0.3 in
Antique French Tapestry Handwoven French Tapestry Verdure Scenic Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
This is a beautiful pictorial antique French tapestry created after William Morris, inspired by the famous mille fleurs tapestries of Cluny, Paris, and featuring a richly detailed ve...
Wool
Pair of Hand Carved Cherub Angel Head, Anri, Italy, 1980s
By ANRI
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Beautiful hand carved pair of Cherub Angel head, found at an estate sale in Germany. Made by Anri a well-known wood carving company in Italy. We believe that these pieces are from th...
Wood
Antique Wooden Carved Black Forest Game Plaque with Fox
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Antique wooden carved Black Forest game plaque with fox An antique wooden hunting game plaque with impressive carving of a fox and hunting accessoires. Black Forest, executed ca. 1900. Very good condition. This plaque is a splendid addition to every rustic wall decoration. The tradition of wood carving in Brienz dates back to mid of the 19th century. People in the region were looking for new employment opportunities. They used their skills from traditional crafts, carving everyday objects and sculptures, and created a new business. Many woodcarvers were trained in the 'School of Wood Carving, Brienz' which was established in 1884. Around 1900 the woodcarving industry counted ca. 2000 woodcarvers. Brienz woodcarvings were presented on several worlds fairs with great success. With the Gran Tour Tourism wealthy people from all over the word visited the area and took their woodcarving souvenirs home. Today some companies, like 'Huggler Holzbildhauerei' still exist and build traditional sculptures. Measures: Width: 13.78" (35 cm) Height: 18.5" (47 cm) Depth: 2.76" (7 cm) Literature Reference: Peter F. Blackman, Black Forest Woodcarvings, Atglen 2009. Jay Arenski, Simon and Michael Daniels, Swiss Carvings...
Wood
$5,425
H 48 in W 60 in D 0.2 in
Antique French Tapestry 4X5 Handmade Tapestry Verdure Tapestry 122cm x 153CM
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent antique French tapestry depicting a hunting scene set within a lush verdure background. It features a beautiful colorway that enhances its artistic detail and timeless...
Wool
$5,400Sale Price|20% Off
H 66.15 in W 31.89 in D 0.3 in
Antique French Tapestry Rococo Tapestry Green Wool & Silk 3x6 Handwoven Tapestry
Located in New York, NY
A magnificent antique French tapestry with Rococo style, featuring a rare and elegant composition of floral elements, vases, animals, and birds, dating to circa 1920. It has very rar...
Wool, Silk
$2,399Sale Price|20% Off
H 38 in W 38 in D 8 in
Mid Century Brutalist Starburst Sunburst Wall Art. Enamel Steel Curtis Jere Era
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Peoria, AZ
GORGEOUS! MID CENTURY MODERN BRUTALIST STARBURST METAL WALL SCULPTURE Direst Metal Sculpture Steel & Enamel Attributed to Curtis Jere 38" wide by 8" deep This marvelous metal sculpture is a brutalist tour de force! Melted metal looks as hot as a molten star! Rays shoot out in all directions and have multiple layers and lengths! This work is in very fine vintage condition. The steel has been gilt enameled in a splatter pattern to catch the light when the sun hits it, creating a very scintillating visual effect. Incredible labor went into this piece and it displays beautifully. It's really hard to find these iconic mid century metal sculptures...
Metal, Enamel
$1,610Sale Price|30% Off
H 24 in W 24 in D 3 in
Mid Century Modern Brutalist Starburst Sunburst Wall Art. Curtis Jere Era
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Peoria, AZ
GORGEOUS! MID CENTURY MODERN BRUTALIST STARBURST METAL WALL SCULPTURE Direst Metal Sculpture Steel & Enamel Attributed to Curtis Jere 24" wide by 3" deep This marvelous metal...
Metal, Enamel
$2,750
H 20.5 in Dm 1.75 in
Carved Redwood Architectural Panel by Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman for Panelcarve
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in BROOKLYN, NY
The radiating sun motif reflects the optimism and indoor–outdoor living ideals central to California mid-century architecture. Solar imagery became a defining decorative element in t...
Wood
Vintage Mid Century 4601 Cabinet by George Nelson for Herman Miller
By Herman Miller, Evelyn Ackerman, George Nelson
Located in Oxnard, CA
Here is a lovely model 4601 cabinet in walnut by George Nelson for Herman Miller. Part of the "Basic Cabinet Series", this piece features a simple two door design with adjustable in...
Walnut
Evelyn Ackerman Bird Wood Carved Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1960s. This plaque features a hand carved bird. Dimensions 9.25" width x 1" depth x 12" height. Condition Good vintage condit...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Pisces Bas Relief Design Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Redwood bas relief tile panel with Piesces carving, designed and created by Evelyn and Jerry Ackerman of Los Angeles, California. Panel measures approx...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Scorpio Bas Relief Design Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Redwood bas relief tile panel designed and created by Evelyn and Jerry Ackerman of Los Angeles, California. Panel measures approximately 9" by 9" by 1....
Wood
Sold
H 9 in W 9 in D 1.25 in
Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Sagittarius Abstract Bas Relief Design Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Redwood bas relief tile panel designed and created by Evelyn and Jerry Ackerman of Los Angeles, California. Panel measures approximately 9" by 9" by 1....
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Teak Wood Carving for ERA Industries, c.1960
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Evelyn Ackerman, Era Industries
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Evelyn Ackerman Teak Wood Carved Wall Plaque of Two Birds for ERA Industries, c.1960. Stamped ERA Industries Inc. to the back.
Teak
Evelyn Ackerman Birds and Tree Hand-Woven Wool Tapestry, 1960s
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Coronado, CA
A wonderful, utterly charming woven wool tapestry by Evelyn Ackerman as part of the ERA line, depicting 2 birds and a tree in vibrant greens, red, orange, and yellow. This piece was hand woven in the 1960s by skilled weavers near Mexico City. This piece features a stunning solid redwood textile hanger...
Wool, Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Tapestry for ERA Industries USA, 1962
By Evelyn Ackerman, Era Industries
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Evelyn Ackerman Tapestry for ERA Industries USA, 1962. Signed EA.
Wool
Evelyn Ackerman Animal Wood Carved Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1960s. This carving features a hand carved creature. Dimensions 12.5" width x 9.25" depth x 1" height. Condition Good, origina...
Wood
Evelyn Ackerman Carved Wood Panel
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Wood carving by California artist, Evelyn Ackerman, c.1960s. This carving features three animals, a zebra, an antelope and an owl in a rectangular ebonized wood frame. Dimensions 4...
Wood
Sold
H 42 in W 23 in D 0.2 in
Stunning Evelyn Ackerman Design Vibrant Wool Wall Hanging Tapestry 'Campasena'
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Hudson, NY
Vibrant original Evelyn Ackerman woven wool tapestry. Colors are rich and vibrant. Corner of tapestry has "EA" signature incorporated into the tapestry....
Wool
Carved Oak Wood Panel by Evelyn Ackerman
By Evelyn Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Dark oak wood caved panel by Evelyn Ackerman for ERA Industries. It’s marked EA on the lower right corner and Stamped ERA Industries on back. Measurements: 39.18” Wide, 9.5” Hi...
Oak