Rare Designer Artisan House Curtis Jere Brass and Copper 3-D Owl Bookends Signed and Dated 1977

Measurements: 3.75" Wide x 5" Tall x 7" Deep (9.53cm x 12.7cm x 17.78cm)

Markings:  © C Jere 1977

Weight: 1.3 lbs.

Another example of the excellent craftsmanship of Curtis Jere for Artisan House. Sculptural Brass and Copper bookends made to look like Owls. Both pieces are in excellent condition only a few scratches on the flat back part where the books would be stacked on. New pads have been added to the bases. Signed and dated 1977.

Though the name Curtis Jeré is familiar to many as the maker of ebullient and eccentric modern design, 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.