From Concept to Catalogue
Artists’ samples were prototype pieces used to present and/or test a new design concept. Only the Chalet owners, (Sergio Pagnin, Angelo and Luigi Tedesco) had the authority to order a test piece. They were typically done as a single piece, and then the decision was made to either stop there or proceed to the next steps. The ‘next steps’ were either small or limited runs meant to judge the feasibility of the design for mass production. Usually after creating a single sample or testing in a run, the majority of pieces were deemed too costly, too time consuming to produce, or lacking a broad enough consumer appeal to become viable production pieces.
We see many variations of design and unique pieces and often speculate that these may be Chalet test pieces – but we do not know for certain. Why? We have no way of determining who made the pieces and for what purpose. Furthermore, we usually see no evidence or proof of them having gone forward to production.
Therefore, we are extremely fortunate in that we do have a verified Chalet’s artist’s sample that can be tracked from the artist’s sample of the concept to a production piece listed in a catalogue – the koala bear carried by Riekes Crisa. Chalet artist Gianfranco Guarnieri was tasked with producing an artist’s sample of a clear crystal bear. The result was a very large (9”) and very heavy (8.6 lbs.) piece. Only about 10 of these sized pieces were produced in the test run for Riekes Crisa and as they were not put into widespread production, this particular piece of art glass is very rare.
Chalet artist Gianfranco Guarnieri on Chalet factory floor. Date unknown. Photograph courtesy of Nicole Guarnieri.
I met Gianfranco, the bear’s creator, during the course of mounting the 2010 Chalet retrospective in Cornwall and persuaded him to put the concept piece on exhibit. In the words of Chalet artist and its creator, Gianfranco Guarnieri:
“He has been in our home for a very long time. I was asked to make him by Sergio Pagnin as an artist’s sample for the Americans – they always wanted something different for their stores. But he took too long and is too big – too expensive to put into the line. They didn’t know what to do with it, so I took him home. When my wife saw him, she said, “Oh Frank – what in God’s name are we going to do with that!” So, he went to work as our front door doorstop. That’s how he got his chip. Then we put him away. When Mrs. Patterson asked me to be a guest of honour at the Chalet show, he was on exhibit as one of my pieces and got a lot of attention because he is a one of a kind. So, he got used to being a guest of honour too – no more doorstop.”
Gianfranco and Vivian Guarnieri. Saturday, October 30, 2010 attending the opening reception of the Chalet exhibit. My ‘Chalet couple.’
Although the artist’s sample of the koala did not go forth unchanged, the concept was put into production with an 8” and much less heavy version being produced for Riekes. It was inventory item #3136-69 and carried in their catalogue in the Riekes “Wildlife Collection.”
And I have been fortunate to find one! This is quite a thrill for me as I can now offer “glass proof” of the only known Chalet “from concept to catalogue” piece of which we know. Hopefully, we will have more in the future. It is also a personal thrill as it was an honour for me to meet the Chalet artists and their families and Gianfranco and Vivian were so very kind to me.
He stands just shy of 8” and weighs in at 4 lbs 2 ounces.
Retains his original “John Riekes Collection label on base.
He is happy in my collection and I am very happy to have him. I have named him “Frank” in honour of his creator.
