Chalet and Eaton’s

In the 19th century, Timothy Eaton founded a small dry goods store on Yonge Street, Toronto. From there, he went on to revolutionize retailing in Canada with Eaton’s ultimately becoming the largest department chain in the country. Unfortunately, in 1999, mirroring Chalet, the chain’s phenomenal success ended in bankruptcy.

 If you are “of a certain age” you will remember that Christmas ”kicked off” by watching or attending the Eaton’s Santa Claus parade. My family actually used to travel to Toronto just for a weekend of holiday shopping and to see the parade and store windows. I remember how cold it was and looking forward to the thrill of riding up Eaton’s rickety wooden escalators and eating “fries” in their cafeteria. And, of course, getting to rub the shoe of the bronze statue of “Timothy E” – which was always where my sister and I met my parents after a few hours of shopping freedom. Eaton’s always reminds me of my mother-in-law as well. Especially since I discovered something while researching Chalet advertising. She was the inspiration for this article. More regarding this follows.

 Chalet pieces that were carried by Eaton’s were etched on their bases. To date, unlike some other Chalet retailers, we have found no Eaton’s labels or hang tags (there is no evidence that such even existed) but have found pieces retaining an Eaton’s company inventory sticker (shown below). We have also not discovered any hand engraved Eaton’s signatures on pieces as found on pieces for sale through Simpsons, Russell’s, or Birks.

 The Eaton company branding is distinctive. An etched capital “E” within a 4-sided diamond bracket:

This “blast from the past” courtesy of 50 Shades member Roy Prins.

Most Chalet pieces that Eaton’s carried just bear this Eaton’s marking.

 All these pieces are branded as such.

Centerpiece at upper left from the collection of 50 Shades member Andrew Patterson and “finger curl’ from the collection of Jackie Lyn. Other 2 pieces from the collection of Deborah Patterson.

However, we have found a fair number that also bear Chalet’s etched signature in addition to the Eaton’s branding. These pieces are each Chalet marked as well as Eaton’s branded:

Bearing both companies’ etched signatures.

And this piece, from my collection, retained its original Chalet sticker as well as being marked with the Eaton’s etching.

Distribution through Eaton’s began in early 1963 – making it the first of Chalet’s national chain store retailers.  Eaton’s also carried Lorraine Glass Industries and EDAG art glass. The earliest Eaton’s Chalet promotions, found to date, are from 1963 and 1964 in Montreal’s “Gazette.”  Interestingly, I found no advertisements for any Eaton’s locations east of Montreal for any year nor any Eaton’s newspaper advertising for Chalet product after 1971. Please also note that the terminology used in these ads regarding form and colour are not necessarily what we collectors use. Best examples are that we talk about centerpieces while these forms are called “bowls” by Eaton’s. Although we normally reserve the term “aqua” for the “ice” uranium, it is used here by Eaton’s to indicate the colour blue. This is in keeping with Chalet itself using the term “aqua” to reference the colour blue as seen in their 1962 “Items Available” catalogue sheet which is shown below. For a full exploration of the Chalet colour palette, please see the article “The Chalet Kaleidoscope”.

 I have included photographs of the Chalet pieces  shown in all the advertisements to create galleries for context. Although some of the pieces bear actual Eaton’s marking, others are signed “Chalet Canada.” However, those not marked with the Eaton’s branding but with other etchings or stickers are still an accurate representation of the forms shown in the ads. I have stipulated markings in all cases.

These first two advertisements feature baskets (BB44 and BB41) and a centerpiece (B44) from Chalet’s 1962 “Items Available” catalogue page. Let’s take a look!

February 18, 1963 “Gazette” (Montreal) advertisement. BB44 basket from the collection of 50 Shades member Daniel Lynch.B44 centerpiece from the collection of “Deborah Patterson. These pieces etched “Chalet Canada.” The “Gazette” is owned by the Postmedian Network.

July 4, 1964 “Gazette” (Montreal) advertisement at left courtesy of Mario Panizzon’s April 7, 2021 post in 50 Shades. Signed “Chalet Canada” basket from the collection of Daniel Lynch. Please note that the bowl shown immediately in front of the Chalet basket in the advertisement is a piece of Waterford crystal. The “Gazette” is owned by the Postmedian Network.

 The range of Chalet products carried by Eaton’s was quite varied as shown by their advertising. I was very surprised by this as unfortunately to date, we have not found this varied inventory of styles in the pieces presently discovered with the Eaton’s etching. So, keep looking! The colours advertised were amber, aqua and turquoise (blue) olive green, fire red and orange. At present, we have found no animal figurines from Chalet’s “Canadiana Wildlife” line nor any bombonniere. Chalet did not make lines/pieces that were ”exclusive” to Eaton’s. In fact, “exclusivity” was not a practice that Chalet followed for any of their retailers or distributors. This becomes very clear as this article unfolds as well as being explored in a previous article.

The most common Eaton’s marked Chalet pieces that we seem to find are the four styles shown immediately below.

The most typical. The gold basket is from the collection of 50 Shades member Josie Muise and the blue centerpiece is from the collection of Josh Dolstra. They can also be found with other markings.

Each basket in this “bevy” bears the Eaton’s etching and is part of the collection of 50 Shades members Lorne Olafson and Darcy Dietrich.

From the collection of Deborah Patterson. The orange in right foreground is Eaton’s marked while the amber and olive are both etched “Chalet Canada.”

From the 2010 Chalet retrospective in Cornwall, Ontario. At left, a large blue/green Chalet basket Chalet pieces with the Birks etching and sticker, then Chantili marked pieces, and then at inner right see the blue basket, amber cigar bowl and orange cigar bowl shown above.. These were the Eaton’s marked pieces at the exhibit. To their right follow FASCINATION PAR C.M. pieces. A generic label hand-molded bowl and then a mistake! A Lorraine Glass Industries piece - the orange centerpiece on riser. The show was the definitive point for the Chalet artists to start our learning and clarifying regarding the “Not Chalet” path. And was the impetus for me to start my research and writing along with collecting.

As seen in some of the upcoming ads, there was a much broader variety in forms that Eaton’s sold than what we collectors have found in “The Wild” and those shown above. However, I am not presently aware of any of these other styles being found bearing the Eaton’s hallmark so cannot show any pictures of actual Eaton’s marked pieces. Yet! Double check your glass if you see that form in the upcoming advertisements as sometimes the Eaton’s mark is hard to see.

 1965 newspaper:

September 2, 1965 from Regina’s “The Albertan” which is a member of Olds Media. Centerpiece from the collection of 50 Shades member Andrew Patterson.

 1966 newspaper:

Both of these pieces bear the Eaton’s etching. July 13, 1966 from “The Leader Post” which is a member of the Postmedian Network. Pieces shown from the collection of Deborah Patterson. This style of basket is also found with the “Chalet Canada” and Chantili etchings. Aptly illustrating the point made above regarding “exclusivity” not being a typical practice in Chalet retailing or distributorship, note the orange basket of this style in the photo above of the 2010 Chalet exhibit in the Chantili marked display - that particular basket retained the large Chantili sticker.

1967 newspaper:

The gold centerpiece and olive basket are etched Eaton’s. Orange ashtray is etched “Chalet Canada.” Edmonton Journal, 1967 which is a division of the Postmedia Network. Advertisement courtesy of 50 Shades member Gionny Gueli. Pieces from the collection of Deborah Patterson.

Both these pieces are etched Eaton’s from the collection of Deborah Patterson. Edmonton Journal, 1967 which is a division of the Postmedia Network. Advertising courtesy of 50 Shades member Gionny Gueli.

Very frequently, the pieces offered were not illustrated. From the Medicine Hat News, September, 1967. Member of the Postmedia Network organization.

1968 newspaper:

Included are 8 advertisements from this year as in 1968, Eaton’s was very frequently showcasing its Chalet inventory - I have quite a few more on file from this period. Moreover, it also was the year that the advertisements began to show more variety in the Chalet product that Eaton’s was retailing. But, most relevant to me, one of the advertisements of 1968 has a personal connection. What? As mentioned above, the inspiration for this article was triggered by a specific Chalet advertisement. Why? My mother-in-law was a commercial artist. She specialized primarily in fashion illustration for clients such as Reitman’s, Pennington’s, Sears, Lord and Taylor, Simpson’s and significantly, Eaton’s. They were her biggest and longest standing account for over 30 years until their closure in 1999. She got her start with a small account from a Hamilton, Ontario retailer –  Eames Department Store. For this client, she did everything. From fashion and footwear to housewares and hardware. She also did china and housewares for Eaton’s. Which brings us us to this first 1968 advertisement, my inspiration for this article:

This December 14, 1968 Calgary Herald (a division of the Postmedian Network) advertisement for Eaton’s “Hospitality Specials for the Holidays” advertisement which features “Chalet Glass Table Talk” was illustrated by Leslie Patterson – my husband’s mother. I both literally and figuratively fell off my chair when I found it! The full description is as follows: “Reg. 7.00 to 38.00.  Lots of Service ‘Surprises’ here with colour and sparkle and savings for your home and gifts! Handcrafted modern table inserts in vases, bowls, ashtrays, and those artful little treasures called ‘whimsey’. Amber, Blue, Orange, Olive Green are the striking colours. AS A SPECIAL, each from 4.66 to 20.00.” I can only assume that the centerpiece shown here at ad’s top left is what the copy describes as “… artful little treasures called ‘whimsey’.”  No other Eaton’s advertising that I have on file presently show these three forms. I am not aware that, to date, we have found any of these styles with the Eaton’s hallmark. From the historical newspaper digital archives of the Vancouver Public Library.

This October 28, 1968 spread from  Saskatoon’s Star Phoenix (part of the Postmedia Network) shows the ashtray already seen above but this “stretch centerpiece” form and the “crystal twist” and “3 point throat” vases make their appearance for the first time in the Eaton’s lineup. Advertisement courtesy of 50 Shades member Gionny Gueli. None of these particular pieces bear the Eaton’s branding – they are etched “Chalet Canada.” Again, I am not aware that, to date, we have found any of these styles bearing the Eaton’s etching.

But just ”ask and ye shall receive!” A 50 Shades member, Karen Jones, just read this article and has provide photographs of a Chalet crystal twist vase with the Eaton’s branding! It is so great that these articles can be updated in “real time” to add new information.

From the collection of Karen Jones.

This May 1968, Star Phoenix advertisement (PostMedia Network member) illustrates the largest grouping of Chalet pieces (9) that I found. Moreover, the 6 shown above here out of the 9 in the ad had not been seen in any of the other advertisements before this date. I did not include the basket, “stretch or hook and curls” centerpiece forms in the photo gallery as we have seen them previously. However, none of these particular pieces bear the Eaton’s etching – they are all from my personal collection and bear the Chalet etching. And, once more, I do not believe that, to date, we have found any of these styles in this ad (with the exception of the basket and hook and curls centerpiece) with the Eaton’s hallmark. Hopefully, soon!

The basket is etched Eaton’s while the cigar bowl is etched ”Chalet Canada.” However as shown above, we have found cigar bowls with the Eaton’s etching. I showed this red one as one of the colours Eaton’s advertises is “fire red.” The ad featuring the “finger” cigar bowl is from the Kitchener Waterloo Record in April, 1968. This newspaper is part of the Metroland Media Group, a subsidiary of Torstar Corporation. The ad on the right with the basket is from a division of the Postmedia Network, the Edmonton Journal , September 1968. This advertisement is of special interest as it offers “leaf bowls” and “swan bowls.” As there is no illustrations of these pieces, I did not include a form for either as it would just be a personal interpretation and therefore, an assumption, as to what this styling terminology meant in terms of a specific form. But it is certainly interesting to speculate! Some possibilities – could the “leaf bowl” be the 1967 Expo limited edition leaf centerpiece or is it Chalet’s other leaf design? Are the “swan bowls” the “Murano” style or the abstract? I do not think that this refers to the swan shaped bonboniere as there is no evidence that Eaton’s carried those and the price point in the ad is much too high. Bombonniere prices at this time were typically under $2.00.

Catalogue pages showing the 2 different types of possible Eaton’s “swan bowls” at either side of gallery. 2 different types of possible Eaton’s “leaf bowls” in the middle of gallery. These original Chalet catalogue pages were given to me by Chalet Maestro Giulio Gatto.

Both the olive basket and the gold “splash” vase are etched ‘Chalet Canada.” An olive basket in this same style bearing the Eaton’s hallmark is shown above. Please note that this ad also mentions “leaf bowls” and gives the dimensions – which help narrow the style down to NOT the limited edition leaf centerpiece which were 12” and 14” sizes. September, 1968, Star Phoenix, Saskatoon. Photo use permitted by the Postmedia Network.

The centerpiece is etched Eaton’s while the ashtray is not. It is etched “Chalet Canada.” This is the first time this particular ashtray form is shown in the Eaton’s lineup. From The Edmonton Journal, 1968 which is a division of the Postmedia Network.

The orange basket is etched Eaton’s. The ashtray and stretch are hallmarked with the Chalet etched signature. This December 21, 1968 advertisement is from the Saskatoon Star Phoenix (a division of the Postmedia Network) and, once again, courtesy of 50 Shades member Gionny Gueli.

1969 newspaper:

This 1969 unillustrated advertisement is from a division of the Postmedia Media - the Edmonton Journal in April of that year. It is exceedingly interesting because it offers “Special Savings on Glassware! Glass bowls- free form blown glass from Lorraine Glass…” and “ Glass bowls - Free form blown glass from Chalet Glass…” in the same box. Please note that the Lorraine product is at a lower price point than that by Chalet.

1970 newspaper:

February 2, 1968 from the Star Phoenix, Saskatoon - a division of the Postmedia Network.

1971 newspaper:

May, 1971 from the Edmonton Journal which is part of the Postmedia Network Significant advertisement as this introduces “Heritage by Chalet Glass”. The first time we have seen Eaton’s carrying forms from any of the four hand molded Chalet lines. And another interesting offering, which is not illustrated, is “miniature bottles.” With regard to the “Handled Vases - delicately styled”, I can make a pretty good guess. However, the bottle reference is a puzzler as all the Chalet bottles I have seen, including the cranberry coloured, are quite large! Thoughts?

This “Handled and Delicately Styled” vase is likely the form to which the above ad refers.

However, this bottle from the collection of 50 Shades member Luna Sabrina, is a fully sized piece.

Chalet product was also carried in the Eaton’s “mail order” catalogues:

 1968 catalogue:

Middle photo insert from catalogue courtesy of 50 Shades member Lorraine Hawley.

.It is also possible to find some very rare and unusual pieces that carry the Eaton’s mark:

These are very atypical pieces that have been found with the Eaton’s etching. Fish figurine from the collection of 50 Shaders Deborah Patterson, “bubble bottle” from the collection of Bob Burgess and as above, centerpiece is from the collection of Jackie Lyn.

 Please note that Bob’s “Chalet Canada” signed bottle retains two other markings. Firstly, an Eaton’s company inventory sticker. Secondly, a Chalet inventory sticker designating a number for this Don Shephard designed bottle. Quite the score!

Another “Eaton’s surprise.” This revelation occurred during a 2011 interview for “The Shapes and Colours of Chalet Glass” with Gianfranco Guarniere and his wife Vivian and Maestri Bruno Panizzon and Giulio Gatto, I showed them a picture (below) that I had just received from a member of my “Chalet Forum”:

Photograph from collector Robin Thorpe, Calgary, Alberta.

When they saw it, I learned that the Chalet “bird bowl” ashtrays came about after Gianfranco (a Chalet artist from 1963-1975) made one at the Chalet factory but on his personal time with the owners’ permission and not on a production team. It was created circa 1963/1964 as a gift for his father-in-law at Vivian’s request. When the owners saw it, they decided to do a limited run. A few more details about these pieces:

: they were an earlier piece and after the limited run, no more were produced as not only were they too expensive and time consuming, its design was also not really of the “Canadian” style that Chalet was adopting and moving production toward.

:most were carried “Out West” by Eaton’s or by FASCINATION PAR C.M. in Montreal

:very few bowls were avventurina. They were more typically coloured in amber, blue or olive.

:and the birds came in a variety of colours with blue, olive, and amber the standard. The piece that Gianfranco made for his father-in-law had an orange bird – his favourite colour. No pictures of this personal piece are available as neither Gianfranco nor Vivian could remember where it had ended up or if it had been broken.

 As stated earlier and shown in the 1969 advertisement, Eaton’s also carried art glass produced at Lorraine Glass Industries. They were not etched. This piece was purchased circa 1963 at Eaton’s by 50 Shades member Gary Harasymchuk.

As it is always fun to “do the math” and translate yesterday’s retail values into the framework of today’s prices, I did up comparison tables using an inflation calculator which determines today’s prices from those prices at which Eaton’s offered their Chalet. Remember though, this is only a “then” retail dollars to a “now” retail dollars comparison. It has no real bearing on the value of a Chalet piece to a collector. The value collectors place on any piece is determined by “market demand” and is influenced by such factors as market availability, perceived popularity, and/or rarity of a piece and not the price at which it originally sold.   

There are three critical things to note from the summary above:

:firstly, in the 1963 through 1968 advertisements, Chalet pieces were quite “pricey.” Secondly, let’s put these prices into a “real life then” context by revisiting the year 1968. The general average Canadian minimum hourly wage in 1968 was $1.25 per hour. The 1968 median yearly family household income was $7,700.00. So, if you wanted to buy even the cheapest piece of Chalet on sale during that year (ashtray at $4.66), you would have to work almost 4 hours if you were earning minimum wage. In today’s dollars, the 2023 average minimum wage is $16.65 and that ashtray would have been priced at $38.90. Meaning that you would have had to work for 2 1/2 hours to afford.

:and lastly, by the 1970 advertisement, prices for Chalet had dramatically dropped – especially for the centerpieces. An ominous “the writing is on the wall” omen. And unfortunately, one that shortly turned into reality with the 1974 closing of Lorraine Glass Industries and Chalet in 1975.

  To end on a much more positive note, I present a Chalet pun video “Eaton’s She Lovely”