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 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 Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman furniture on 1stDibs.
Art Pottery Bird Dish by ( Evelyn and ) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev, 1953
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Art Pottery / Slip-cast Ceramic Bird Dish (Evelyn and) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev Design Studio Inscribed on the bottom with “Ackerman” and “Jenev” ( Jenev is very faint ) Los Angele...
Ceramic
Art Pottery Bird Candle Holders by (Evelyn and) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev, 1953
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Pair of Slip-cast Ceramics / Art Pottery Bird Candle Holders ( Evelyn and ) Jerome Ackerman for Jenev Design Studio Inscribed on the bottom with “Ackerman” and “Jenev.” Los Angeles, 1953 "Rare opportunity to own an original "rare" piece of California Mid-Century Modern Art Pottery History" "In very good as found condition, no chips or hairline cracks" "Jenev Design Studio: 1952–1955: Renting a small space at 2207 Federal Avenue in West Los Angeles, the Ackermans opened Jenev Design Studio, a combination of their first names. With very little money, they set about building a successful career based on ingenuity, talent, and hard work. Jerry began creating his first group of slip cast pottery, using the skills he had honed at Alfred. Designing shapes, making molds, and developing glazes consumed nearly a year. Jenev’s first client was Carroll Sager Associates and Jules Seltzer, a prominent Los Angeles showroom for modernist furniture. During this same period, they also designed a number of products for Cal Pacific Imports." "A limited edition in BLACK of this same item was reissued / produced in 2019 using the original 1953 molds shortly after Jerry Ackerman...
Ceramic
Charles Greber Pottery Candle Holder
By Charles Greber
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A really beautifully glazed candle holder out of a collection of wonderful art pottery. It has a collection sticker on it's base. Great glaze.
Pottery
Vintage Brass Nautical Anchor Candle Holders
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautifully forged in solid brass, these nautical anchors have a classic aesthetic that is ideal for coastal and nautical décor but can easily translat...
Brass
Carved Wood Lion Sculpture in the Manner of Evelyn Ackerman
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
A beautiful 1970’s carved wood lion sculpture in the manner of Evelyn Ackerman. It’s not marked. But beautifully carved, possibly pine. Measurements: 26” wide, 7” deep and 10.5” high.
Pine
Monumental Planter in the Style of Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in South Charleston, WV
Circa 1965. 18" cubed. This planter was obtained from a bank in WV that also featured doors by David Gillespie of Forms and Surfaces - the company that was previously known as panelc...
Oak
Art Glass Bird / Duck Sculpture by Cenedese for Murano Glass
By Murano 5, Cenedese
Located in San Diego, CA
Large Murano glass bird / duck sculpture on base by Cenedese studio for Murano Glass, circa 1980s. This is a beautiful piece that is in very good vintage condition with no chips or s...
Murano Glass
$962 / set
H 5.52 in W 5.12 in D 1.97 in
Pair of Ceramic Birds Candlesticks - Candle Holders - Japanese Pottery 1970s
By Jacques Pouchain, Dominique Pouchain
Located in ROUEN, Normandie
Pair of Ceramic Birds Candlesticks - Candle Holders - Japanese Pottery 1970s Charming pair of bird-shaped ceramic candlesticks. Japanese 1970s pottery. Each candlestick is hand-cr...
Enamel
$233Sale Price|33% Off
H 1.18 in Dm 7.87 in
Art pottery Vide-Poche or plate by Inger Persson for Rörstrand, Sweden
By Rörstrand, Inger Persson
Located in Skarpnäck, SE
A signed rare abstract Scandinavian Mid- century modern art ceramic plate made by Inger Persson in the 1960s for Rörstrand, Sweden. This is a studio production and has an unusual pat...
Ceramic
$3,395 / set
H 13.39 in W 3.55 in D 11.82 in
Pair of Silver-Inlaid Brass Art Deco Serpent Candle Holders
Located in London, GB
Pair of silver-inlaid brass Art Deco serpent candle holders Continental, c.1920 Height 32/34cm, width 9cm, depth 30cm Dating to the time of...
Silver, Brass
Rare Ariel Bowl by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors, Sweden 1953
By Orrefors
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Rare Ariel Bowl by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors, Sweden 1953 A large bowl of the Ariel series designed by Edvin Oehrstroem for Orrefors Sweden. Colorless glass with a purple and gr...
Art Glass
Large Signed Jérôme Massier Hand-Painted French Art Pottery Ceramic Bowl
By Jerome Massier
Located in Miami, FL
An exceptional large hand-painted ceramic centerpiece bowl by the celebrated French pottery atelier Jérôme Massier of Vallauris, dating to the early 20th century (circa 1900). Beaut...
Ceramic
Brutalist Welded Metal Owl Sculpture Candle Holder Folk Art
Located in North Fort Myers, FL
Whoooo wouldn’t love this guy? This handcrafted vintage welded metal owl is everything I love about Brutalist sculpture—raw, textured, wonderfully imperfect, and full of personality...
Metal
$1,200 / set
H 7 in W 7.5 in D 5 in
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
Sold
H 16 in W 11.25 in D 2.5 in
Stan Dann for Evelyn Ackerman Panelcarve Redwood Wood Carving Wall Plaque
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Sarasota, FL
Rarely seen Panelcarve panel by Stan Dann for Panelcarve for Forms and Surfaces owned by Jerone and Evelyn Ackerman depicting a owl. Nicely carved of redwood with original paint. S...
Wood
Sold
H 15 in Dm 2.75 in
Rare Pair of Ceramic Porcelain Bottles by Jenev Design Ackerman Early Production
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in San Diego, CA
Beautiful and rare pair of tall ceramic bottles designed by Evelyn and Jerome Ackerman for Jenev Designs, an early and rare-to-find set signed and labeled in black and white with no ...
Porcelain
Ackerman
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Evelyn Ackerman
Located in San Diego, CA
Sculptural wood wall plaque by Evelyn Ackerman for her and Jerome Ackerman's company, ERA. It has a wonderful patina and includes a hanging bracket on the back. Evelyn Ackerman w...
Wood
Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman One of a Kind Studio Ceramic Vessel
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in St.Petersburg, FL
This vessel was designed and produced by Jerome Ackerman circa 2000-2010. The provenance of the piece is direct from the collection of Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman...
Ceramic
Sold
H 7.25 in W 9 in D 1 in
Evelyn and Jerry Jerome Ackerman "horse"carving/sculpture, Panel, Era Industries
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Era Industries
Located in Los Angeles, CA
These carvings were made for just few years.
Wood
Sold
H 3.88 in W 6.25 in D 3.63 in
1950s Ackerman Rare Early Porcelain Bird Bowl California Modern Design Icon
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Hyattsville, MD
Extremely rare 1950s original studio pottery piece from Jerome Ackerman of Jenev Studios (Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman.) Essential for any important California pottery collection.
Stoneware
Sold
H 1.25 in Dm 11.25 in
Jerome Jerry & Evelyn Ackerman Signed California Studio Pottery Plate Low Bowl
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Studio City, CA
A fantastic work by well know Mid-Century Modern designers Jerome (Jerry) & Evelyn Ackerman. The Ackermans began their career in design primarily in ceramics in the early 1950s. A...
Pottery
Jerome Ackerman Studio Pottery Chalice, 1980s
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Los Angeles, CA
From the estate of the late Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman. A whimsical chalice design. It appears that he made only two or more of these. This one and the one pictured in the book. W...
Clay
Sold
H 12 in W 9 in D 0.5 in
Evelyn and Jerry Jerome Ackerman "Bear" Carving/Sculpture Panel, Era Industries
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Era Industries
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice bear in oak carving panel designed by Evelyn Ackerman. Wall sculpture.
Wood, Oak
Sold
H 12 in W 9 in D 0.5 in
Jerry and Evelyn Ackerman Wood Carving Sculpture/Panel, by Era Industries Marked
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman, Era Industries
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a nice and traditional design by the well known artist Evelyn Ackerman, and made for Era industries as stamped in back. This rosewood carving it was designed for multiple pur...
Wood, Rosewood
Sold
H 36 in W 12 in D 2 in
Jerome and Evelyn Ackerman Pair of Balinese Dancer Glass Tile Mosaic Wall Panels
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of glass mosaic Ackerman wall panels entitled "Balinese Dancer", circa 1958. Panels measure 36" by 12" and are signed with partial ERA paper tags ...
Glass
In the Garden Glass Mosaic Tile Wall Panel Hanging
By Evelyn & Jerome Ackerman
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Glass mosaic tile wall hanging panel. Piece measures 20" by 35.75" and is unsigned. In very good vintage condition.
Glass