You likely have encountered the names of the famous painters Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri Matisse. But have you ever seen their names engraved on jewelry? And did you know that “artist” C. Jeré was a sort of a cousin to Renoir and Matisse of bijou fame?
History of Fels and Freiler's Renoir Jewelry
In 1946, friends and brothers-in-law Jerry Fels and Curtis “Kurt” Freiler joined forces and combined their expertise for the first time when they formed a jewelry company, Renoir of Hollywood (later Renoir of California, and even later simply Renoir). Jerry honed his artistic talent at New York’s National Academy of Design. Kurt was an expert in manufacturing processes, a skill he picked up in Germany, where he managed a factory before immigrating to the United States. The partners produced high quality copper jewelry with modern geometric and abstract forms. The pieces were prepared by machine but finished by hand, giving them a distinct hand-made look.
In 1952, Jerry decided to apply enamel effects to some of the existing designs, and a new line, Matisse, was born. (There was also a third line, Sauteur Sterling Silver Jewelry, but it did not last very long.) New designs appealed to modern, progressive women who wanted something different than their mothers’ diamonds, pearls and gold. Lana Turner and Betty Davis were reportedly big fans! Unfortunately, several factors, including the influx of cheaply-made imitation pieces, eventually led to the company's demise in the early sixties.
Founding of Artisan House
But when one door closes, another one slides open. Jerry and Curtis started their next company, Artisan House, with the idea of creating “gallery-quality art for the masses.” Their metal sculptures and wall decor soon became synonymous with Mid-Century Modern design.
Origin of Curtis Jeré (C. Jeré)
Every piece that came out of the Artisan House was signed “C. Jeré,” a clever combination of Curtis and Jerry and frenchified by an acute accent to give it more flair. This nom-de-plume led many to believe that a person called Curtis Jeré was the man behind the art.
History of C. Jeré Wall Sculptures
The company produced about 50 designs a year. Manufacturing took place in California. Fels and Freiler were known to hire minorities and people with disabilities, which was unusual at the time.
From realist to abstract, from chrome, nickel and brass to metal covered with bright coatings of all shades and colors, from rather small in size to taking up half a wall, the prolific Artisan House created something for everyone. C. Jeré Wall Sculptures became quite commonplace, gracing the walls of city apartments and suburban houses across the nation. Starburst with Flying Geese, Raindrops and Pom Pom Urchin were just a few of the most popular designs.
When was Artisan House sold?
In 1972, Fels and Freiler sold the company, though Jerry Fels continued to work for the Artisan House for a while. By then, many different designers contributed their ideas, though all the pieces were still marked with the same “C. Jeré” signature. For example, Jerry’s protege B.J. Keith, who later found fame in her own right, was responsible for designing the popular Kitchen Utensils line (giant forks, spoons, whisks and so on.)
Collecting C. Jeré Wall Sculptures
The present popularity of Mid-Century Modern design and the inspiration taken from popular TV shows and movies set in the 1960s (ex: Mad Men) have resulted in a dramatic increase in the prices of C. Jeré pieces that used to be a common thrift store find in the 1980s and 1990s.
The rising demand, as well as personal obsession, led designer Jonathan Adler into an exclusive partnership with the Artisan House. Thus, it is now possible to order some of the most iconic C. Jeré designs, reincarnated by Jonathan Adler, online. In his company's own words, “why have boring old paintings when you can have the dynamism of these 3D sculptures blasting off your walls?”
How to tell if a C. Jeré piece is an Original
Since both originals and reproductions are signed, it may be hard to distinguish a vintage piece from a modern one. Those in search of the real thing should concentrate on the object d'art's age. Pieces made in the 1960s and early 1970s are more likely to be the originals. And if a piece in question feels like a cheaper imitation, it probably is (remember, high quality was of utmost importance to both Fels and Freiler.) Consulting the catalogs and seeking professional opinion can be very helpful. Antique stores and estate sales are great destinations for those seeking to have a C. Jeré gracing their wall!