'Mad Men' Trend: Retro Metal Wall Sculptures
Bravura metal artwork brought depth and shine to walls in the 1960s, and it's brightening homes again today
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
This season on Mad Men, some glittery golden and brass objects have been catching my eye, especially the one that hangs over Don and Megan Draper's bed. Sculptural metal pieces like these filled a gap between midcentury-modern style and a more brutalist bravura modern aesthetic; back in the 1960s and 1970s they were used in a wide variety of room styles. The most well-known sculptures were Curtis Jeré, or C. Jeré, sculptures. They were produced by Artisan House and are the most well-known pieces of the style. They includes floor, table and wall sculptures as well as lamps.
Who was Curtis Jeré? I had always imagined him as a man in his mid-50s with wild, wavy salt-and-pepper hair, sideburns and a long mustache living in some California canyon in a house that looked like this one. My vivid imagination was way off, as Curtis Jere did not exist. Artisan House was founded in 1963 by copper jewelry designer Jerry Fels and his brother-in-law Curtis (Kurt) Freiler. They Brangelina-ed their names together and came up with Curtis Jeré. They trained artisans to handcraft metal art pieces for the masses and probably never would have guessed back then how much vintage C. Jeré sculptures fetch today.
While the more abstract and nature-inspired pieces are the most sought after right now, the company created (and still creates; Fels and Freiler sold Artisan House in 1972) sculptures in all sorts of shapes, including bridges, birds, hot air balloons, houses, bicycles, owls and ships. Their pieces and other metal sculptures with a similar look are thriving in the decor market today as well as on vintage-looking sets like those of Mad Men.
Who was Curtis Jeré? I had always imagined him as a man in his mid-50s with wild, wavy salt-and-pepper hair, sideburns and a long mustache living in some California canyon in a house that looked like this one. My vivid imagination was way off, as Curtis Jere did not exist. Artisan House was founded in 1963 by copper jewelry designer Jerry Fels and his brother-in-law Curtis (Kurt) Freiler. They Brangelina-ed their names together and came up with Curtis Jeré. They trained artisans to handcraft metal art pieces for the masses and probably never would have guessed back then how much vintage C. Jeré sculptures fetch today.
While the more abstract and nature-inspired pieces are the most sought after right now, the company created (and still creates; Fels and Freiler sold Artisan House in 1972) sculptures in all sorts of shapes, including bridges, birds, hot air balloons, houses, bicycles, owls and ships. Their pieces and other metal sculptures with a similar look are thriving in the decor market today as well as on vintage-looking sets like those of Mad Men.
On AMC's show Mad Men, Don and Megan's newly decorated midcentury-modern apartment has a large metal sculpture over the headboard.
This is the living room of Christian May, the interior decorator behind the blog maison21. It was through maison21 that I first learned that Curtis Jeré was not one metal artisan but rather a whole bunch of them.
"I am a huge fan of C. Jeré/Artisan House pieces and love to use the less kitschy pieces in my work," says May. This leaf sculpture brings together a mix of metals and can be hung any which way, a common quality among many of the pieces.
"I am a huge fan of C. Jeré/Artisan House pieces and love to use the less kitschy pieces in my work," says May. This leaf sculpture brings together a mix of metals and can be hung any which way, a common quality among many of the pieces.
This vintage C. Jeré elm tree sculpture is an apt choice here; it gives the fireplace a presence that can hold its own next to the large painting on the same wall. The sculpture adds dimension and texture and emphasizes the mantel's horizontal lines.
Also, the contrast between the bravura style of the sculpture and the traditional moldings on the fireplace is an interesting part of the style mix.
Also, the contrast between the bravura style of the sculpture and the traditional moldings on the fireplace is an interesting part of the style mix.
by Jonathan Adler
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I first heard about C. Jeré via Jonathan Adler on my favorite page of his book My Prescription for Anti-Depressive Living. It's page 25, and it's titled "What would Mrs. Goldstein Do?" Apparently he first discovered C. Jeré via his fabulous neighbor Mrs. Goldstein, and I love the way he describes her house so much that I'm going to share the den part with you:
"The den had a George Nelson sectional sofa upholstered in a bright red, which was surrounded with African art, groovy C. Jeré wall sculptures, and a Knoll coffee table supporting a giant sculpture of a hippopotamus." What a visual. Thanks, J.A.
"The den had a George Nelson sectional sofa upholstered in a bright red, which was surrounded with African art, groovy C. Jeré wall sculptures, and a Knoll coffee table supporting a giant sculpture of a hippopotamus." What a visual. Thanks, J.A.
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by Soledad Alzaga
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| Whatever Mrs. Goldstein did, it made a lifelong impression. Jonathan Adler now has an exclusive partnership with the C. Jeré studio. The studio has reissued the most iconic midcentury designs, which are available for purchase via Jonathan Adler. The collection includes a reproduction of this urchin sculpture. The way this designer has mounted the sculpture adds a subtle frame and even more dimension to the wall. |
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| The Rain Drops Sculpture is also available via Jonathan Adler. I am not surprised to see it in the glam and glittery home of Tina Sindahl, who writes the blog Signed by Tina. She is an expert when it comes to working with metallic and mirrored finishes in her decor. |
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| Interior designer Eilzabeth Hagins also has a great eye for mixing metallic finishes. The vintage C. Jeré on the wall plays off the mirrored pieces. |
This sculpture was a Craigslist find. While I'm not sure whether or not it's C. Jeré, it certainly has that same organic bravura look. I love the way the designers at Domicile Interior Design have placed a lamp on each side, lending symmetry to the asymmetrical piece.
See the rest of this home
See the rest of this home
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by Mikel Irastorza
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| Spanish designer Mikel Irastorza created his own wall sculpture by reworking a gold leaf–covered light fixture into this unique wall sculpture. See the rest of this home What other Mad Men design moves are inspiring you this season? I'm also loving the way the walls of Joan's apartment are saturated in color. Let us know what you're digging — or which trends you hope have gone away forever — in the Comments section. More: Brass and Gold Accents Make a Comeback 'Mad Men' Style: Peggy Olsen's Office Grows Up 'Mad Men' Style: Sally Draper's Tween and Teen Bedroom Guest Picks: Live Like Mad Men |
Ideabook updated on April 10, 2012.
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Silver "Blast Wall Pods":
http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?ItemId=56507
Gold "Burst Wall Pods":
http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?DepartmentId=104&ItemId=57049
Silver "Galactic Sculpture"
http://www.chiasso.com/store/item.aspx?DepartmentId=53&ItemId=56497
(Think I'll add these to the products section if they are not already there)
As for MM decor this season...
I LOVE EVERYTHING about Don and Megan's apartment from the sunken living room, the built-in shelving and entertainment unit to the kitchen, but I'm really diggin' on the area just inside the double entry doors. I can't find a picture of it anywhere, but from the episodes it looks to be a reflective or mirrored, patterned screen off to the left just as they enter the apartment.
Lots of design inspiration this season!
I've attached a better photo of the sculpture. Keep up the good work!
marcie
http://custm.co/hz/30