The Chalet for Riekes Crisa Bears

For me personally, the most intriguing and/or satisfying things about my collecting Chalet are:

: getting a quirky or rare piece,

: recognizing and honouring the artists that made the glass,

: getting something on my “unicorn” list for my collection and,

: getting new information or verifying a “theory.”

And, if and when a piece can bring more than one to the table, that makes for quite a memorable moment!

 I had such a “moment” just recently when I purchased a lot of five Chalet Riekes Crisa clear crystal animal figurines – the arched back cat, the pointed ear owl, the mallard duck, the swan, and the panda.

As listed on e-bay.

Now, since these are all shown in the Riekes catalogues that we have seen and since some of these production figurines are not particularly rare, why was this a moment for me? Well, firstly, the panda is quite scarce and I had never seen it in person. Next. the seller claimed that they all had their original labels which is unusual in a lot but, more intriguing, I could see that a few also seemed to retain retail store price stickers.

 So, I purchased as not only did I want to add the panda to my collection to keep my Riekes koala company but, I also wanted to see those retail stickers! And after waiting for about two weeks, so I did.  As listed, each figurine did indeed still have its original Riekes Crisa label but the incredible bonus was that each also retained a retail price sticker from “Boscov’s”. The duck actually has two.

My new and repatriated panda:

I researched Boscov's and discovered that it is an American family-owned department store chain founded in 1914 and still operating today. The stores carry clothing, shoes, handbags and jewelry, cosmetics, domestics, small appliances, and home décor items. The Boscov chain has 49 locations throughout Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. 26 of these stores are located in Pennsylvania with its headquarters near Reading, Pennsylvania. These five animal figurines with the Riekes and Boscov’s original labels shipped from Pennsylvania.   Riekes Crisa was a major American distributor of Chalet product in the United States and based in Omaha, Nebraska. The pieces that are found in Canada with their labels have worked their way back here - Riekes did not export Canadian product back to Canada. So very cool to now be able to directly link this US distributor to a US retailer.

The panda’s Boscov’s store sticker reads $2.99. US dollars. I made 1973 the base year for translating the “then” pricing into “today” pricing as we know Riekes was a Chalet distributor from that point. Inflation was factored in until 2023 which put the pricing equivalent today at $20.55 US which is $28.04 CDN.

1973, Chalet factory. Artist Angelo Rossi (left) with Chalet Maestro and owner Sergio Pagnin (right). Centre, Roger Burns, an executive from Riekes Crisa. This photograph was taken during a press conference surrounding the media releases that Chalet had obtained Riekes Crisa as a major American distributor. Courtesy of the Cornwall Community Museum.

So, all four factors regarding my “moment” covered:

: the panda is definitely a rarer and quirky piece,

: I can recognize and honour the artists who made these pieces through this article as I have photographs linking certain artists to certain pieces,

: it has been on my “list” since I realized that Chalet  Maestro Giulio Gatto blew these and,

: I was able to obtain and verify information regarding distribution and sales as well as get a real sense of time and place for these Chalet products.

 Reasons number two and three were the most important regarding this purchase as I had a sentimental reason for wanting the panda. What?  It’s very important to me, and has been since meeting the artists in 2010, that I can relate to the glass personally as well as learn about it in a historical perspective. One of the ways to do this is to see if I can connect the making or design of any piece to the “Faces of Chalet.” To my immense satisfaction, I have been able to do so quite often.

Some examples:

 I have a Riekes koala bear that I like to think Chalet artist Gianfranco Guarnieri blew.

2011, Cornwall, Ontario. Chalet artist Gianfranco Guarnieri during photo shoot for the “Shapes and Colours of Chalet Art Glass.” His artist’s sample koala for Riekes was oversized.

I have an avventurina  “buddha belly” owl and silver filled polar bear that I like to think are the work of Chalet Maestro Bruno Panizzon.

2011, Cornwall, Ontario. Chalet Maestro Bruno Panizzon  during photo shoot for the “Shapes and Colours of Chalet Art Glass.” Maestro Panizzon worked extensively with the animal figurines.

I also have a green Chantili stickered Chalet Christmas tree that I picture Chalet artists Roberto De Marchi and Giovanni Voltalina working together to make.

This Christmas tree is still in the possession of the De Marchi family. Roberto and Giovanni and Maestro Gatto often worked together on the Chalet trees.

 One of the most stunning mouth blown Chalet vases I have came from the family of Chalet artist Giovanni Voltalina. It was blown by either Maestro Sergio Pagnin or Maestro Luigi Tedesco (also Chalet owners). Jean Paul Voltalina, son of Giovanni, could not remember which artist had blown it. His father was present while it was being made and ended up taking it home.

And now I have another piece, my new panda, that I know could have been blown by Maestro Gatto. I already have a lemon and a banana that were gifts from him. Very cherished pieces.

Chalet Maestro Giulio Gatto worked at EDAG (Montreal, Quebec), Lorraine Glass Industries (Montreal, Quebec), Mosaic Artistic Glass (Cornwall, Ontario), Chalet Artistic Glass (Cornwall, Ontario), Christallerie Chalet Vie et Art (Saint Zotique, Quebec) and Rossi Artistic Glass (Cornwall, Ontario). He has kept some of his work from Lorraine, Chalet and Rossi. Please note that the Chalet for Riekes panda form is circled.

Why is knowing about the pieces themselves and who made them so important to me? Well, these “men from Murano” and their wives and family members have helped me and our community add to our knowledge of Lorraine, EDAG, Chalet, Rossi, and Mosaic immensely over the years. Starting in 2010 during the Cornwall exhibit, they are still answering questions and providing details today. And, since we have so little verified data about the “who, why and when” of these Canadian glasshouses, every little scrap of research that materializes into “fact” is priceless. And their generosity in sharing their experiences and the wonderment they feel at “so many questions” warms my heart.

So, now to the specifics of the Riekes bears. Chalet produced two very unusual bear figurines for this American distributor - a kola bear and a panda bear. We know from Chalet artist Gianfranco Guarnieri that, “The Americans always wanted something different.” They are both clear crystal and in upright poses.

The koala as shown in the 1976 Riekes General catalogue. Item #3136-69 and it is listed as 8” in height.  We are fortunate to know the history of how this piece came into production.

Mine stands 7 inches and weighs over 4 pounds.

Paolo De Marchi, son of Chalet artist Roberto De Marchi, also has a sentimental attachment to this piece. His childhood baby sitter was Vivian Guarnieri (Gianfranco’s wife) and his father worked with Gianfranco for many years. As well, the Italian community in Cornwall is very close.

Glass get-together (in more ways than one) on my 2021 road trip. Comparing our bears!

Although the koala is listed on its own (as shown above) in the 1976 Riekes General catalogue, in the later undated catalogue, it is now part of an assortment. It is included with four other figurines in Assortment #82704.

Perhaps being moved into a lot speaks to a poor sales record as a single item.

The panda is also shown in both catalogues. However, in each case, it is part of  Assortment #7439-69. It is never featured on its own.

Panda shown in the 1976 Riekes General catalogue.

In the later undated Riekes catalogue.

My panda figurine is 5 inches tall. Remember differences from inventory listings are typical as each of these pieces was hand blown. Variation between the same forms of Chalet was expected.

As the wind up to the article, I thought I should include the video of the figurines unboxing and the placement of my new panda. Warning: some scenes may be disturbing for sensitive viewers.

His new home in one of my living room displays.