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.
Pair of "Quotation" Gold Leaf Finish Bookends by Curtis Jere
By Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Fun pair of mid-century modern iron "Quotation Mark" bookends with gold leaf finish by Curtis Jere, circa 1968. The bookends are in very good vintage condition with a great patina a...
Cut Steel, Gold Leaf
$340Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Sea Birds on Ocean Pylon Bookends by Curtis Jere for Artisan House
By Curtis Jeré, Artisan House
Located in San Diego, CA
Excellent and rare pair of sea birds on ocean pylon bookends by Curtis Jere for Artisan House, circa 1977. The pair are signed and dated and are in very good vintage condition with a...
Quartz, Copper
$380Sale Price / set|20% Off
Pair of Tennis Players on Quartz Court Bookends by Curtis Jere for Artisan House
By Curtis Jeré, Artisan House
Located in San Diego, CA
Excellent and rare pair of bronze tennis players on quartz court bookends by Curtis Jere for Artisan House, circa 1976. The pair are signed and da...
Quartz, Bronze
$600Sale Price / set|20% Off
Iconic Midcentury Gender Symbol / Sex Bookends by C. Jere
By Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Original pair of midcentury sculptures / bookends featuring the universal symbols for male and female (Sexes) signed by C. Jere, circa 1960s The pieces are made of heavy metal with a gold leaf-like finish and have a wonderful, worn vintage patina. Each symbol is approx. 7" tall and sits upon a 4" x 4" base. These iconic 1960s Curtis Jere gender symbol bookends...
Curtis Jere Mars & Venus Gold Gilt Bookends Sculptures Signed Jeré, 1968
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Saint Louis, MO
A beautiful, and in lovely condition, pair of Mars and Venus Curtis Jere sculptures or bookends depicting the male and female gender symbols on square bases made of gold leafed cast iron. In beautiful condition with original patina and signed "C. Jeré 1968". The gilt really adds a nice warmth and glow. These would look exquisite displayed in a lit bookcase, in a master bedroom, master bath...
Iron, Gold
Rare Curtis Jere A-Z Bookends Signed Mid-Century Modern
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Pemberton, NJ
CLASSIC CURTIS JERE A-Z IRON BOOKENDS.SIGNED C JERE IN NICE VINTAGE CONDITION. SURPRISINGLY HEAVY AND GILDED GOLD WITH A NICE VINTAGE PATINA.
1968 Curtis Jere Male and Female Bookends, a Pair
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Marietta, GA
Classic pair of gilt iron bookends, signed C Jere, 1968. One, the sign for female, and one, the sign for male. Heavy enough to actually hold books, or just use, decoratively.
Iron
Late 20th Century American Mid Century Modern A - Z Bookends by, Curtis Jere
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Englewood, NJ
A Pair of Mid Century Modern cast iron "A-Z" Iron Bookends finished in original gilt finish. They are each signed "@ C Jere 1970" They are In great vintage condition with some loss o...
Iron
Pair of MCM "A to Z" Gold Leaf Finish Iron Bookends by Curtis Jere
By Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Fun pair of mid-century modern iron "A to Z" bookends with gold leaf finish by Curtis Jere, circa 1960s. The bookends are in very good vintage condition with a great patina and meas...
Cut Steel, Gold Leaf
Curtis Jere Tic - Tac - Toe Onyx and Metal Sculptures or Bookends
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Saint Louis, MO
One of a kind Curtis Jere onyx and metal Tic Tac Toe sculptures or bookends, sold individually or as a pair. All of Jere's Tic Tac Toe sculptures are unique ...
Onyx, Metal
20th Century Mid Century Modern Ice Block Bookends Sculptures by, Curtis Jeré
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Englewood, NJ
A scarce and rare Vintage American Mid Century Modern Pair of Ice Block bookends by, Curtis Jere. One bookend is decorated with a steel plated ice tong set onto the glass ice cube an...
Steel
Whimsical Pair of Curtis Jere Brass Onyx Tennis Player Bookends, Mid-Century
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Pemberton, NJ
Whimsical pair of girl and boy signed Curtis Jere brass tennis player bookends on onyx bases. Great gift for the tennis player who has everything!
Onyx, Brass
Pair of Acrylic Lucite Bookends
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Pair of Lucite / Acrylic bookends by Ritts and Co. - super sleek and perfect for any space. Especially good for the modern or minimalist space. The pair a...
Lucite
$1,667
H 41.13 in W 46.5 in D 7.13 in
1976 Curtis Jere Brass Wire Galleon Ship Sailboat Metal Sculpture Art
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Chattanooga, TN
Poised between abstraction and nautical biography, this Brutalist-era sailboat wall sculpture captures both movement and material poetry. The sail motif is rendered through sharp, to...
Metal, Brass
Art Deco Stylized Wood Sculptures of Horse Bust Bookends
Located in Moreno Valley, CA
Vintage Art Deco style wood stylized horse head sculptures bookends. Great to use on a desk as a paper weight or decorative objects around the house or office. Art Deco stylized hors...
Wood
Lucite Acrylic Bookends, Pair, circa Midcentury 20th century
Located in New York, NY
A pair of clear Lucite acrylic bookends with Modern edge and jewel-like design, in the Modern style, Midcentury Modern design period, circa mid-20th century, 1960s. Top of bookend ha...
Acrylic, Lucite
$181 / item
H 5.71 in W 2.17 in D 2.76 in
“Triumph Bookend" S White Carrara Marble Minimalist Bookend by Aparentment
By Josep Vila Capdevila
Located in Terrassa, Catalonia
The marblelous book end small is a minimalist style book end made of treated Carrara marble. The product consists of a solid marble prismatic block. Josep Vila Capdevila, head desig...
Marble, Carrara Marble
$548 / item
H 5.12 in W 3.15 in D 2.37 in
Pair of 2 Small Structural I-Beam Gold Bronze Bookends by Henry Wilson
By Henry Wilson
Located in Geneve, CH
Pair of 2 Small Fin Bronze Bookends by Henry Wilson Dimensions: W 8 x D 6 x H 13 cm Materials: Bronze Fin bookends come in two sizes. Each is made, finished, and polished in Sydney,...
Bronze
$1,200
H 21 in W 11 in D 7.25 in
Mid Century Modern Boy and Balloons Figurative Bronze Sculpture by Curtis Jere
By Curtis Jeré, Artisan House
Located in San Jose, CA
Vintage "Boy and Balloon" sculpture signed by Curtis Jere for Artisan House, circa 1968. This figurative piece depicts a boy holding strings of colored balloons. The boy is made of p...
Bronze
$595
H 19.88 in W 12 in D 8 in
Vintage Mid-Century Modern Brass & Copper Cattails Curtis Jere Style Sculpture
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine vintage Mid-Century Modern mixed metals sculpture. In the style of Curtis Jere. In soldered brass & copper. In the form of cattails surrounded by lilypads(?). Sim...
Brass, Copper
$1,500 / set
H 6.75 in W 4.5 in D 5 in
Murano Salviati Glowing Uranium Art Glass Italian Bird Bookend Sculptures
By Salviati
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown uranium yellow with orange tails Italian art glass chirping birds bookend sculptures. They are documented to the Salviati Company. I have opened s...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso, Uranium Glass
$850 / set
H 6.38 in W 5.5 in D 4 in
Vintage Brass Finish "Orb" Bookends by Ben Seibel for Jenfred Ware
By Jenfred Ware, Ben Seibel
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Sculptural bulbous tear drop-form with cutout bookends designed by Ben Seibel for Jenfred Ware (ca. 1950s, USA). Very good, vintage condition - brass plate shows light wear throughou...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Brutalist C Jere Tree Sculpture Signed
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Haddonfield, NJ
A great Mid-Century Modern Curtis Jere brass, copper and metal life-size tree sculpture. Rare form Brutalist design. Large leaves and verdigris green metal base. Signed C Jere on leaf.
Metal, Brass, Copper
$495Sale Price|20% Off
H 6.19 in W 5 in D 4.75 in
Midcentury Modern Orange Metal Bookend, Made in England
Located in New York, NY
An English orange enamel expandable bookend, Midcentury Modern period, circa mid-20th century, England. Great design in a beautiful orange hue that...
Metal
Sold
H 6 in W 5 in D 4 in
1970s Curtis Jere Signed Sculptural Copper Figurines on Onyx Bookends – a Pair
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Farmington Hills, MI
We are very pleased to offer a rare pair of bookends crafted by the renowned Mid-Century metal sculptor Curtis Jere, circa the 1960s. Each bookend features a beautifully crafted copper figurine...
Copper
Z Bookend by Curtis Jere Signed & Dated 1971 in Gold Leaf Finish
By Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Solid iron midcentury Z Curtis Jere bookend with gold leaf finish. Signed and dated "1971".
Iron
Pair of Vintage Copper School Desks on Onyx Base Bookends by Curtis Jeré
By Artisan House, Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
A nice pair of vintage copper school desks on onyx base bookends by Curtis Jeré for Artisan House, circa 1970s. The set is signed on the base and are in very good vintage condition w...
Onyx, Copper
Curtis Jere Signed A to Z Bookends, United States, 1960's
By Curtis Jeré, Werkstätte Carl Auböck, Ben Seibel
Located in San Juan Capistrano, CA
Curtis Jere Signed A to Z Heavy Gold Leaf over Iron Bookends, United States, 1960's.
Iron, Gold Leaf
Sold
H 4.5 in W 5.75 in D 1.75 in
Pair of "A to Z" Bookends by Curtis Jere Signed & Dated 1971 in Gold Leaf Finish
By Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Pair of solid iron of midcentury, solid iron, "A to Z" Curtis Jere bookends with gold leaf finish. Signed and dated "1971".
Iron
Sold
H 8 in W 12 in D 4 in
Pair of Ship Wheel Bookends in Gold Leaf Finish by Curtis Jere for Artisan House
By Artisan House, Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Excellent and rare pair of ship wheel bookends in gold leaf finish by Curtis Jere for Artisan House, circa 1977. The pair are signed and dated and are in very good vintage condition ...
Cut Steel, Gold Leaf
Sold
H 4.5 in W 5.75 in D 1.6 in
Pair of "A to Z" Bookends by Curtis Jere Signed & Dated 1969 in Gold Leaf Finish
By Curtis Jeré
Located in San Diego, CA
Excellent pair of midcentury, solid iron, "A to Z" bookends with gold leaf finish by Curtis Jere signed and dated "1969". Great patina in original condition. Solid Bronze rare pair.
Cut Steel, Gold Leaf
Curtis Jere A-Z Bookends
By Curtis Jeré
Located in New York, NY
1970s Mid-Century Modern solid iron with gold leaf finish. Both of them are signed and labeled.
Iron, Gold Leaf
Curtis Jere Objet D'art Bookends
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Los Angeles, CA
A fun set of arrow designs. Made of cast aluminum with gold leaf, both are signed in ink "C Jere".
Aluminum
Pair of a Pair of Sun and Moon Reversible Bookends by Curtis Jere.
By Curtis Jeré
Located in New York, NY
A pair of sun and moon reversible bookends by Curtis Jere. Gilt iron. Signed C. Jere, 1971.
Iron
Curtis Jere Sex Symbol Sculpture Bookends
By Curtis Jeré, Artisan House
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Sex Symbol bookends designed by Curtis Jere for Artisan House in the United States circa 1970’s. This beautiful set of bookends is made with heavy gol...
Metal
Pair Signed and Dated Curtis Jere Bookends or Sculptures
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Pasadena, CA
Great hefty pair of signed and dated Jere bookends. The bookends are gold leafed cast iron and demand to be noticed. The male or female iconic forms are outstanding, dated 1969.
Iron, Gold Leaf