American Mid Century Modern glass and steel "Ice Block" Bookends by, Curtis Jeré. The bookends are heavy cast and textured glass looking identical to a pair of ice cubes with one bookend displaying a pair of polished steel tongs.
circa 1960s'
Measurements:
7⅝ h × 7¾ w × 6½ d in (19 × 20 × 17 cm)5 h × 5 w × 5 d in (13 × 13 × 13 cm)
Condition:
Bookends are in very good condition with minimal wear and some minimal pitting to the polished steel tongs. Ready to be displayed.
Biography:
Curtis Jerè is a metalwork company known for wall sculptures and household accessories. C. Jeré works range from representational to highly abstract, and are made and marketed by the corporation Artisan House.Curtis Jeré is a compound nom de plume of founding artists Curtis Freiler and Jerry Fels, who combined parts of their own names to create the C. Jeré signature.
According to Modernism magazine, which interviewed Jerry Fels shortly before his death in October 2008, the company was founded in 1963 by Fels and his brother-in-law Curtis (Kurt) Freiler. Freiler was the production chief and Fels was head of design. Their goal was to produce "gallery-quality art for the masses."[1] Prior to the establishment of Artisan House, the partners built a costume jewelry business, selling work under the names Renoir and Matisse, which employed around 300 people at one point.[2] Kurt and Jerry sold Artisan House in 1972. Kurt Freiler died July 22, 2013, at the age of 103.[3]
In a two-page article on the history of C. Jeré for the November 2010 issue of Elle Decor, Mitchell Owens wrote that, after launching in 1964, C. Jeré sculptures were "distributed by Raymor, a cutting edge studio in New York City, and retailed at Gump's in San Francisco and other high quality emporiums…Under Freiler's meticulous direction, the workers—a number of whom were minorities or handicapped—sheared, crimped, torched, and welded brass, copper, and other metals before coating them with luminous patinas.
The name of the artist and furniture designer Curtis Jeré was, in fact, the shared pseudonym of two individual American artists, Curtis Freiler and Jerry Fels using the signature C.Jeré. Together the artists used many materials including exquisite and delicately colored enamels, thin sheets of hammered patinated brass, copper, polished stainless steel, glass and chrome. From these simple materials, the artists created beautiful and evocative wall sculptures, practical furniture and a range of other products.
Curtis Jere did not only produce abstract art, they also created pop art using the forms of everyday household items, from a giant copper cheese grater to a pair of iron bookends painted in gilt paint. The artists Fels and Freiler were in fact, brothers-in-law. In 1963 they began collaborating on various artistic projects sharing a passion that would allow them to produce “gallery-quality art for the masses.”
Curtis Jere used a variety of traditional techniques such as enamelling, pouring resin into moulds, and casting bronze and other metals to create their abstract metal works of various clustered and modular shapes.
To produce their sculptures on a more commercial basis, Curtis Jeré formed Artisan House and used this company to distribute their works to a worldwide audience. The company also produced their costume jewellery under the brand Renoir and Matisse. As well as their abstract pieces, the two artists also designed costume jewellery.
At its pinnacle, the brothers-in-law employed around 300 workers at Artisan House. They mass produced their gallery quality furniture, costume jewellery and their sculptures.
The workers were supervised by Freiler in his role a production chief and Fels as head of design. They shared metals, crimped wires, brazed, and welded brass, copper, and other metals before coating them with the artists’ typical luminous patinas. Freiler was famous for his meticulous attention and his exact instructions to the workers at the factory. Many of these workers were people from minority groups or disabled. Fels and Freiler decided to sell Artisan House in 1972. It has been sold and resold since. Curt Freiler passed away on July 22, 2013, at the incredible age of 103. in Los Angeles, California. Fels passed away in October of 2008.