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.
John Demott Brutalist Mid-Century Torch Cut Metal Clipper Ship Boat Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Mid Century era torch cut metal sculpture by John DeMott. The Brutalist style clipper ship has gold, copper and bronze colors to the metal. The stone base appears to be onyx. DeMott’...
Stone, Metal, Brass
Mid-Century Brass Unicorn Sculpture by Sarreid Ltd., Made in India
By Sarreid Ltd.
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A stunning embodiment of myth and mid-century glamour, this brass unicorn captures motion and imagination in equal measure. The creature is portrayed in a proud trotting stance, its ...
Brass
1970s Brass Tree Sculpture, Patinated Metal, Mid-Century Modern, 73 in
By Curtis Jeré, Jonathan Adler
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A magnificent 1970s decorative brass tree sculpture in the style of Curtis Jere, this large-scale piece captures the era’s fascination with sculptural form, light play, and natural m...
Brass
Mid-Century Oil Painting of Sailboats, Signed R. Styles, 37x37 in
By Montague Dawson, Frederick Judd Waugh, Edward Moran 1
Located in Chattanooga, TN
This atmospheric mid-20th-century oil painting, signed “R. Styles,” captures the enduring romance of wind, water, and open sky with a confidence reminiscent of classic maritime paint...
Canvas, Paint
Large 1980's Marc Creates Brutalist Torch Cut Metal Nail Tree Sculpture
By Bijan, Marc Creates, Curtis Jeré, Marc Weinstein
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A monumental testament to mid-century Brutalism, this wall sculpture—designed by Marc Weinstein for Marc Creates in the 1970s—reimagines nature through industrial form. Its structure...
Metal
Athena on Her Chariot Ancient Greek Style Mid-Century Modern Horse Sculpture
By Frederic Weinberg
Located in Chattanooga, TN
A striking Mid-Century Modern sculpture executed in the Greek Revival taste, depicting Athena riding a stylized horse-drawn chariot accompanied by her symbolic owl. Rendered with pronounced Etruscan and Brutalist influences, the piece embodies the sculptural abstraction and mythological romanticism that defined a wave of sophisticated decorative arts produced during the mid-20th century. Executed in patinated cast metal with a rich verdigris finish, the sculpture evokes the appearance of an excavated antiquity while maintaining the clean linearity and expressive geometry associated with Mid-Century Modern design. The elongated horse forms, angular chariot construction, and primitive-classical composition strongly recall the work of Frederick Weinberg and related Raymor-era designers, blending ancient Mediterranean inspiration with modernist decorative sensibilities. Dramatic from every angle, this highly decorative object functions equally well as a bookshelf sculpture...
Bronze
Curtis Jere (Am., CA, 1910-2008) Signed Brass Wire Yacht Sculpture Of A Sailboat
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Bridgeport, CT
This is one of the artisan's sculptures finely crafted in his metalwork workshop. A large sturdy brass sailboat constructed of wires and mounted on two flat feet for displaying on a ...
Brass
Curtis Jeré Brass Mid Century Modern Sculptural Signed Sailing Boat
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Weesp, NL
A Rare Mid-Century Modern Masterpiece – Curtis Jeré’s 1976 Brass Sailboat Sculpture. Elevate your collection with this exceptional 1976 mid-century modern brass wire sculpture by C...
Brass, Iron
Mid Century Brass Wire Sailboat Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Pittsburgh, PA
This large vintage brass wire sailboat sculpture is a striking mid-century piece, welded in the Brutalist style of Curtis Jere. Its intricate design captures movement and form, makin...
Brass, Wire
Monumental Curtis Jere Brass Sailboat Sculpture, Signed and Dated 1976
By Curtis Jeré
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
Monumental Curtis Jere Brass Sailboat Sculpture, Signed and Dated 1976 Dimensions: 52″ W × 39″ H × 7″ D Signed: © C. Jere, 1976 A striking and monumental brass wire sculpture of a ...
Brass
Curtis Jere Brass Wire "Schooner" Table Top Sculpture with Base, 1976
By Curtis Jeré, Artisan House
Located in Bainbridge, NY
Signed early version C. Jere 1976 Brass Wire Yacht Sculpture, Brass Sailboat Sculpture by Artisan House. Featuring a one piece three dimensional Sloop ...
Brass
1976 Curtis Jeré Brass Schooner/ Sailboat Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in North Miami, FL
C. Jere 1976 Brass Wire Yacht/ Schooner Sculpture by Artisan House. Featuring a one piece three dimensional Sloop in all Brass on a open footed and rectangular Brass base. Maritime. ...
Brass
