Angelo Tedesco engraved pieces
I am always especially delighted and surprised when one great thing sets off a terrific chain reaction. It happened to me this week - courtesy of Maestro and Danielle Gatto. They sent me pictures of themselves and Giulio's glass for use in the 50 Shades of Chalet group’s 2nd anniversary member celebration video. So - that was amazing in and of itself. But it did not stop there! In one of the photographs, I noticed this engraved crystal plate.
Photograph courtesy of Maestro Giulio Gatto.
This piece aroused my curiosity as it was very atypical to the rest of their collection. So, of course, I had to ask the Gattos about it. And - as usual, they were very gracious and supplied details. Specifically, this plate was made at Chalet by Luigi Tedesco - a Master glass blower and one of the company owners. It was made to be used in a demonstration at the factory by Angelo Tedesco - Luigi's brother.
No - I did not misunderstand what the Gattos told me. But I understand why you would think so as we are so accustomed to thinking of Angelo as the sales dynamo and creator of the company, we forget that he was an artist in his own right. He was a former Venetian glass blower, master glass cutter and engraver. And the engraved roses on this plate are his work! The plate was kept on display in the showroom at Chalet. It is a one-of-a-kind piece. Maestro Gatto was allowed to take it as a remembrance of his time at Chalet when the company closed.
I was astonished and thrilled - couldn't stop smiling to see this. However, I then started having a "niggle." When I mounted the 2010 Chalet exhibit in Cornwall, I met Antonio Tedesco. Another brother to Angelo and Luigi. And another Chalet artist. I was invited to his home to have coffee and see his glass. I don't think I was processing things - and I was a brand new collector at that time and knew really nothing - about the company, the glass, the families ... So - where is this going? Well, back to my “niggle.”
Antonio gave me alot of pictures of pieces in his collection that day. And my “niggle” was insisting that it was pretty certain that there was a clear crystal piece with engraving in his photographs. Yup!
Photographs courtesy of Chalet artist Antonio Tedesco.
I did not ask Antonio about this bowl that day as I was so overwhelmed. Those fruit alone had my head spinning! And I wouldn't have known what to ask anyway as I did not realize the incredible significance of the engraved swans on that crystal bowl until Danielle and Giulio put the engraving into context. Our thanks to them!
