Chalet “April Showers”

The use of strong bold colours and striking colour combinations is one of the defining characteristics of the art glass produced by Chalet Artistic Glass. However, Chalet also produced a great many of their hand-blown forms in clear crystal as well. Clear crystal mouth blown and hand -molded pieces are also seen. One of the four crucibles was always reserved for clear crystal. Clear crystal forms included animal figurines, ashtrays, baskets, bomboniere, bottles, centerpieces, candleholders, Christmas trees, fruit, minis, ring holders, paperweights, sailboats, and vases. To date, we have not found clear fruit bookends or completely clear cap and stem mushroom figurines.

Chalet glass was leaded crystal. The chemistry for crystal replaces calcium with lead oxide to enhance clarity and brilliance in finished pieces. To be considered crystal, the lead content must be a minimum of 18%. The range is up to 40%. With the acquiring of American and Canadian distributing powerhouses, Riekes Crisa and N.C. Cameron & Sons Ltd., the per-centage of lead oxide added to Chalet’s mix increased to 24%. During a February 29, 2024 interview, Lorraine Glass blower, Toan Klein told me that he toured the Chalet factory in 1973 with Chalet artist Angelo Rossi and remembers the huge number of 50lb bags of lead oxide just sitting along one wall of the factory floor.

Lead not only added brilliance to the glass, it increased its weight and made the molten mix easier to work. It could be blown at a lower temperature, the gather was more fluid and the time the artists had to work with the piece before it began to harden was prolonged. Artist Brian Ashby marvelled at the difference when he began working upon moving to Cornwall with a crystal mix as he had been learned to blow “pop bottle” glass in college. This is a term given to art glass that is a soda ash composition with little lead oxide additives. See “Chalet Crystal Clear Continued” for more details.

However, as the crystal mix was prepared by hand every night for the next day’s work, no two batches will have mixed exactly the same and the purity of the mix was also affected by the cleanliness of the crucible and the conditions in the factory. Therefore, there is a marked difference in the crystal brilliance and clarity between Chalet forms. You will notice that some pieces are icy clear while others may have a bluish cast. And, ever so often, a piece with too much lead in the mix pops up. This gave the mix a yellow cast and was considered by Chalet to be a second. You will notice all this variation throughout this article’s photographs and picture galleries.

The crystal of this Chalet owl figurine, at left and then in middle of grouping, shows the yellow cast when too much lead oxide was present in the glass mix.

Another element that gave the occasional piece a yellow or yellow/green cast was uranium. Now Chalet might have considered these pieces seconds but we certainly do not! Proof of the saying: “how times have changed”

Polar bear figurine from group member Jackie Lyn and songbird figurine from group member Kevin Hall.

Clear crystal pieces are notoriously difficult to photograph well and the pictures, however expert, never do them justice! Sometimes it helps a bit to add a coloured piece and/or display with art.

Photograph courtesy of Deborah Patterson.

Let’s take a look at a sampling of production hand-blown Chalet forms in clear crystal.

Some animal figurines:

This little Chalet songbird has built its nest with 50 Shades member Tracey Court.

Note the differences in the crystal’s clarity and brilliance. Photographs (top left to right) courtesy of collectors Liz Albano, Alex Wicks and Gionny Gueli. From bottom left to right, Cathy Antonyshyn, Bradley Atkinson.

This clear “Buddha Belly” Chalet owl figurine, etched Chalet Canada. is very rare.

Do not mistake the clear “Buddha” owl made by F. M. Konstglas Ronneby for a Chalet piece - it is not a Chalet owl mini. At first glance, it is very similar but the Chalet form is much larger and there are additional differences in styling details.

Chalet piece at left and the Swedish piece at right. From the collection of Deborah Patterson.

The Riekes Crisa catalogues show a multitude, both in assortments and as standalones, of animal figurines. The smaller animals are presented in assortments with the pedestal based and larger animals, such as the 4-legged wide stance elephant typically those shown as singles.

From the later, post-1975, undated catalog, here is just one grouping. Chalet was no longer in operation at this time.

Clear crystal ashtrays and cigar bowls are not as common as clear animal figurines.

As above, we see variation. Ashtray at left from the collection of 50 Shades member Carol Fox. Top right, from the collection of Deborah Patterson and, at bottom right, from the collection of Gionny Gueli - a huge fan of the Chalet clear crystal pieces.

Clear crystal basket forms in the style BB2 are quite common.

This lovely piece is from the collection of 50 Shades member David Mackie.

However, other clear crystal basket styles are very scarce.

Collector extraordinaire and group member Cindy Bishop-Laughlin is very pleased to own this one! The rest of us can certainly see why.

Outside of the swan and “long-arm stretch” centerpieces, other styles of clear crystal centerpieces are not common.

Top left - from the collection of 50 Shader Troy Danby. Middle photograph courtesy of Deborah Patterson. Photograph at top right from Bradley Atkinson. At lower left, a piece from the collection of Bob Burgess and at right, from Gionny Gueli.

Perhaps the most iconic clear crystal Chalet form is the Chalet “Christmas tree.” It is highly coveted by Chalet collectors – a unicorn for many.

50 Shades member Jonathon Tremblay has a “few” of these trees in his forest - in all of the styles.

These trees from the collections of members Deborah Patterson, Jo Highland, Gionny Gueli and Ella Hanks.

Crystal clear Chalet fruit are not common.

Mini versions of familiar forms are often found.

The “kitten” at top left is from the collection of Melissa Patterson. The “crossed-fingers” centerpiece is another piece from the collection of Cindy Bishop-Laughlin. The “crystal twist” and “spike” vases and mini “stretch” are from the collection of Deborah Patterson.

This vintage Chinese piece from Crystal Brand is often mistaken for a Chalet mini basket. As is this Toscany brand stickered piece from Taiwan. They are typically about 8” in height.

Yes. There is an egg paperweight in clear crystal.

And I can even show you it with some original advertising. This Riekes Crisa sale advertisement is from American retailer Boscov’s. Still operating today, Boscov's Inc. is an American family-owned department store chain with fifty locations in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, West Virginia and Rhode Island. This “50% OFF RIEKES LEAD CRYSTAL“ sale was running in 1973, in the Boscov’s Lebanon, Pennsylvania location. 52 years ago, it was regularly priced at $2.00US and was being offered at $1.00. Translated into Canadian dollars - then and now - in 1973, the Canadian dollar was only ever so slightly below the US dollar so there really would not have been a difference. With inflation, the cost of purchasing today, would be $6.63 - on sale from $13.26. I definitely paid more than that for this little guy but it came with this little stand (which I spray paint whenever I change my decor) so that was a bonus. I do not think it was originally sold with this. It certainly does not indicate so in the ad. The paperweight has a shaved flat area on one side so it can lay flat for display. Unlike the lemon shown earlier. That piece must be placed in a bowl or secured.

Moving on to the ring tree form:

Note the differences between this Chalet form and that of the Chalet Christmas trees shown above. The most obvious is that the tips of the “tree branches” are curled upward - enabling the function of holding a ring. From the collection of 50 Shades member Dawn Tolhurst.

I was told by the artists at the 2010 Chalet exhibit, that Chalet sailboats were done in honour and recognition of both the seas around Murano, their birthplace, and the St. Lawrence River which flows past Cornwall, their new home.

Sailboat photographs courtesy of Chalet Vintage Art Glass Gallery.

Many Chalet vases were also produced in clear crystal. Some familiar forms - some not.

This photograph of a Chalet “tornado” vase was taken by Sabrina Brunetti.

A beautiful and very rare “3 finger” vase:

Photograph at lower right courtesy of group member and collector Brad McGillivray

Hand-molded clear crystal pieces were also produced. Styles? There were a few hand-molded baskets as well as the lines of hand-molded Chalet bottles and vases designed by Don Shepherd. Along with molded bomboniere, clear crystal owls, candleholders and mushrooms.

As with the hand-blown baskets, hand-molded baskets are not as common as some of the other molded forms.

Some of the clear crystal bomboniere. These little forms were incredibly popular and a very significant source of revenue for Chalet.

*Bomboniere* at right from the collection of 50 Shader Kerri Williams.

These *bomboniere* top row at left are from the collections of Deborah Patterson and Kevin Kodak - top row middle and right. The basket form from Gionny Gueli.

This fish *bomboniere* is the same form as the one shown in the bottom row of the gallery directly preceding. However, note the different distributors’ labels.

To create the bottles from the Don Shepherd for Chalet line, the artist blew molten glass into a mold. It then cooled for a brief period and was removed. Repositioned on the canna , returned to the oven for re-heating and then worked by the glassblower. For comprehensive information regarding the Don
Shepherd/Chalet connection, please refer to section 7 (chapter begins on page 267 through pages 281) in “Chalet Crystal Clear Continued.”

This signed bottle is from the collection of Deborah Patterson.

This wine bottle is not only etched “Chalet Canada”, it also retains its DS label. Photographs - Deborah Patterson.

You have to be very careful when placing this style of wine bottle as, due to the design, the base is not level. Also etched “Chalet Canada.”

The molded “ice floe” Chalet candleholder forms were also designed by Don Shepherd.

From the collection of 50 Shades member Linton Meyer.

As were the embossed block mushrooms.

This is the only configuration in which these were made. This was shown at the 2010 Chalet exhibt. Photograph - Deborah Patterson.

And so too were the Chalet embossed block owls. Most famously, Don Shepherd also did these pieces for Blenko.

This incredible and complete set from the collection of Jo Highland. Many, many collectors are jealous!

If all the above production pieces were not enough – we have also found some “Never say Never” oddities. And, it’s safe to venture a one-of-a-kind piece!

A definite one-of-a-kind piece!

An 8” cake plate. Piece retains its “John Riekes Collection” sticker.

And, very uniquely, the only known artist’s sample that we can verify from concept to catalogue production was done in clear crystal.

2010, Chalet artist Gianfranco Guarniere during a Cornwall photo shoot for my first book - “The Shapes and Colours of Chalet Art Glass.” Most definitely check out the linked articles - this link is to “From Concept to Catalogue” which details the details of how this piece came to be carried in the inventory of Riekes Crisa. And the link here is to the biographies of the Chalet glassblowers. Also refer to “Chalet Crystal Clear Continued” for more particulars regarding same.

And of course, 99.99% of Chalet footed bases and all of their pedestal bases, no matter the style (with the exception of some footed petal bases of a few pieces from the opal and cranberry splatter line) were of clear crystal.

Gold vase from the collection of 50 Shades member Carolyn Sebestyn.

From the collection of Deborah Patterson.

As were all the styles of applied handles and prunts (small piece of glass fused onto a larger piece) on baskets, the decorative prunts on vases, and the leaves and stems on the fruit figurines, the fruit bookends and the fruit ashtrays.

Photograph of pear, lower left, courtesy of Lise Legare Kowalchuk.

They are found with an extensive range of branding – company etchings and stickers as well as labels from distributors. As well, we have found pieces retaining their original country-of-origin sticker as well. Lucky discoveries of pieces retaining retailers’ labels have been unearthed. Retailers’ advertising has also been brought to light.

Some Chalet company branding from clear crystal pieces:

Finding this label on a clear crystal piece is not as typical as finding the “Chalet Canada” etching or the small “Lead Crystal” sticker. For comprehensive detail regarding Chalet’s and the other glasshouses of that era lines, brandings and marketing see the relevant chapters in “Chalet Crystal Clear Continued.” Information on Chalet distributors and retailers is also found in the book.

More frequently seen Chalet company indicia on clear crystal pieces:

A company branding mismark:

Obviously an elephant is not “Canadiana Wildlife.”

Brandings from several of Chalet’s distributors:

This Chalet fish bomboniere bearing a “Roy Craft” (Tex Novelty distributor branding) sticker is in the collection of Lorne Olafson and Darcy Dietrich.

The brilliance and clarity of the crystal of this Chalet bomboniere from Ella Hank’s collection is outstanding. It retains its original Chantili distributor’s label.

The largest Canadian distributor of Chalet product:

The English-only N.C. Cameron & Sons Ltd sticker is the one found most typically on the clear crystal Chalet product they carried for distributorship. This 6” mini is from the collection of Deborah Patterson.

However, I do know of two of the N.C. Cameron’s bilingual label on clear crystal forms. This molded candleholder:

And the second piece. This little oddity:

Photograph attribution to Bradley Atkinson.

It is also shown in the Riekes catalog and described as a “flame”.

Four of the five brandings will be found on clear crystal Chalet forms will be found on those products carried in the Riekes Crisa distributor inventory. The 5th branding label is not applicable.

Many other Chalet pieces were also shown as stand-alone items for purchase in the Riekes Crisa catalogues. This listing is from the 1975 Riekes Crisa General Catalogue:

The earliest Riekes Crisa label:

The most commonly found Riekes label:

The “John Riekes Collection” label:

And the last label used by Riekes Crisa used on Chalet product. This was put on pieces that they still had in their inventory after Chalet’s closure:

It’s always fun to identify a catalogue piece!

Occasionally I hear collectors state that Chalet made a certain form or colour only for sale or distributing by one retailer or distributor. This is entirely incorrect. You will have noticed throughout this article, different brandings on the same form. If you did not, here are 2 examples of “distributor overlap” as proof that exclusivity was not the norm.

These Chalet dolphin fish figurines were carried by at least 2 distributors - American Riekes Crisa (left) and Canadian N. C. Cameron & Sons Ltd. (right).

Montreal area distributor Chantili stickered at left and US Riekes Crisa stickered piece at right.

This generic “Lead Crystal” country-of-origin label has been found on several clear crystal Chalet pieces - see “CCCC” for further examples and details.

It has also been found on other non-Chalet Canadian made pieces so do not assume, if you find one, that the piece is by Chalet unless there are other Chalet characteristics. Case in point:

This is not a Chalet elephant. How do I know? The most obvious “tell” is that the trunk is not uplifted as in all the styles of the Chalet elephant figurines. And the ears are also different.

I was always am thrilled when I find a retailer’s sticker or advertisement! I was very fortunate in seeing an online listing for a lot sale of 5 clear crystal animals. Not only did they retain their retailer sticker with original pricing BUT I also had advertisement in which they were featured.

Again from the American retail chain Boscov’s as mentioned earlier with the clear egg paperweight. That piece is also featured in this ad, right beside the animals, which differs from the one above. This 1973 US price translates into $28.55 Canadian today - now that’s quite a bargain!

And not only was I able to identify a compote piece, I found an advertisement in which it is featured:

In 1973, Boscov’s offered the compote on sale from $18.00US to $7.99 US. This translates to Canadian dollars today - $171.87 reduced to $76.29.

We have also found clear crystal pieces with retailers’ inventory labels:

The incredible “bubble bottle” from the collection of Bob Burgess. I covet this piece! For more detail on this retailer, here is a link to the Web site Eaton’s article.

And an example of a stickered Chalet piece that retains its Birks’ label:

Photograph attribution to Sabrina Brunetti.

On a final note, Chalet produced pieces that had gold and silver inclusions. These vary greatly in appearance depending on the quantity and size of the materials blown into the glass. When I asked Chalet Maestro Bruno Panizzon about these particular clear crystal pieces, he described them as having “silver sparkles.” To date, this very fine silver dust has only been found in Chalet bird and duck figurines. The birds have been etched and stickered Chalet and one of the duck figurines retained a Riekes label - the black artist palette shaped sticker.

The duck figurine, piece at left, is from the collection of Jo Highland.

Now, let it rain!

A Chalet Easter

The Chalet “Songbird” Animal Figurines