The Chalet “Songbird” Animal Figurines

Chalet had quite an extensive variety of bird figurines – owls, ducks, Canada geese, chicks, roosters, doves, swans, a penguin and the various (what I call) songbirds. Many of the Chalet birds were produced in more than one pose and/or style and all were produced in a wide range of colours, colour combinations, and clear crystal. Some are found in avventurina and bullicante. Since this is such as huge field and there are already articles showcasing the Chalet owls and the Chalet roosters, this article is going to focus only on the “songbirds.”

Most recognizable are four styles of Chalet songbird figurines – 2 different styles of single tail birds, a split tail and a fantail. In addition, there are a few others that might surprise you. They are found with a wide variety of Chalet brandings. Etched “Chalet Canada”, with distributors stickers and Chalet company labels and in a very rare case – a generic county-of-origin label. And, with all Chalet pieces, there is natural variation in size, weight, detail. colour tones and placement.

The three most commonly found and in the most typical colour combination:

From left to right – the split tail, the single tail and the fantail. Photograph by Ken Huss.

Three of these figurines are featured on the Chalet catalogue page that we have with the wildlife figurines. However, the image for #702 is not visible.

Note the bottom row. The single tail with pose of head tucked to chest (second from left) is Chalet #701 and the fantail (last on right) is Chalet #703. There is a listing for another bird #702 but there is no image. A likely assumption is that it would be for the split tail form.

A few of 50 Shades member Marta Michalowski’s feathered friends. She has quite an assortment.

The single tail #701 is the most often found Chalet songbird. This figurine is typically approximately 5 ½” in height from base to top of head and 4” in length from beak to tail end. However, as mentioned above, there will be variation between forms as these pieces were hand-blown and, therefore, no two will be the same. The blue/bright green colour combination:

Same 2-tone colour combination but with distinct tonal and colour placement variation as well as variation in size and form shape. Both are etched “Chaslet Canada.”

This figurine nests with 50 Shades member Cindy Bishop-Laughlin.

As above, from the collection of Marta Michalowski.

Other colour combinations seen are blue/olive green:

Photograph by Sabrina Brunetti.

Amber/olive green:

Another from Marta Michalowski’s aviary. Notice how short the tail of this figurine is in comparison to the ones shown directly above and below. More variation. Also etched with the Chalet signature.

Amber/bright green:

Another from the collection of Cindy-Bishop Laughlin.

Amber/blue:

Mini single tails have also been found.

There is a significant difference in the height and girth when compared to the larger figurine.

Mama bird and “mini me” photograph contributed by Cindy Bishop-Laughlin.

50 Shades member Jo Highland also has a lovely set. Note the two different 2-tone combinations.

This style of Chalet songbird was also done in clear crystal:

Once again contributed by Marta Michalowski..

There is a second style of Chalet single tail songbird that is exceedingly rare. It is very distinct from the style of #701 shown above. Surprise!

This bird figurine, etched with the iconic Chalet signature, is from the collection of 50 Shades member Elizabeth Estes.

Discovering this little fellow was another surprise for me. The styling is a hybrid of the two shown above and not only does it retain its N.C. Cameron & Sons Ltd distributors label, it also bears a generic “Lead Crystal” sticker. This is not the only piece on which this particular label has been found. For more details, please refer to pages 220-221 in the chapter regarding “Chalet Generic County-of-Origin” labels in “Chalet Crystal Clear Continued.”

Now in the collection of collector Melissa Patterson.

Lorraine Glass Industries also produced two styles of single tail birds. They are both “similar yet different” to to their Chalet counterparts:

Lorraine Glass Industries bird figurines at left top and bottom. Chalet Artistic Glass pieces at right top and bottom. Photos contributed by Deborah Patterson, Cindy Bishop-Laughlin and Elizabeth Estes.

The second style of Chalet songbird that follows the single tail in frequency of discovery is the split tail – what I suspect to be Chalet inventory piece #702 (see above catalogue page for reference). This figurine is typically smaller in stature.

Single and split tail pair from the collection of 50 Shades member Pierre Denis.

However, the 2-tone colour combinations in which it is found are the same as the single tail figurine. To start, amber/blue:

The bight green/blue. Note the variation in colour, colour placement, size and styling.

Photographs courtesy of collectors Liz Albano (top left), Cindy Bishop-Laughlin (bottom left), Marta Michalowski (top right) and Bob Burgess (bottom right).

The olive green/blue:

Same colour combination but with variation in placement of breast, head and tail colouring. Photograph at right courtesy of 50 Shades member Michael Flink.

Amber/bright green:

This bird also belongs to the flock of Marta Michalowski.

As with the single tail birds, we have not found, to date, this figurine in rarer colour combinations but we have found it in a solid colour and in clear crystal.

This is the only Chalet one-colour split tail bird figurine of which I am presently aware.

In clear crystal. This piece also retains its original distributor’s label - this time a Chantili sticker. It is very surprising that we have yet to find one retaining a Chalet Riekes Crisa label. Soon I imagine!

Notice the thickness of its tail in comparison to the solid coloured bird preceding. From the collection of 50 Shades member Tracey Court.

And Chalet produced split tails coloured with uranium in the mix. 50 Shades member Malla Birns has something to share!

And a second!

Last but definitely not least - a third!

From the collection of 50 Shades member Kevin Hall.

#703 is the fantail songbird. This style is very scarce.

Three other blue/bright green but showing variation in tone and placement from the figurine directly preceding:

From the collection of Cindy Bishop-Laughlin.,

Photograph courtesy of Chalet Vintage Art Glass.

From the collection of Kevin Hall.

I can show it in only a few other 2-tone colour combinations.

Two figurines in the blue/olive green. same 2-tones but different colour placement:

Once more, courtesy of Marta Michalowski.

Another from the collection of Kevin Hall.

Amber and olive green:

And a bright green/bright gold in this lovely grouping from the collection of Troy Danby.

50 Shades member Kevin Hall also has this exceedingly rare solid cranberry fantail figurine!

We have also found this style in clear crystal:

Photograph courtesy of 50 Shades member Alex Wicks.

And, delightfully, we have found 2-tone fantails in rarer colour combinations as well:

Collector Jo Highland is fortunate to have this lovely cranberry/bright green:

Cranberry with bright amber/gold:

And cranberry/olive green:

Even better than a stunning 2-tone is this incredible. as well as exceedingly rare, 3-tone fantail:

Chalet used the fantail songbird form on their “bird bath ashtrays” as well:

This particular piece is from the collection of 50 Shades member Alan Frenette. The orange colouring of the bird is very, very rare.

And it was the style used on this “Never say Never” bird pedestal figurine. From the collection of the Cornwall Community Museum:

Just give me a moment - it seems member Susan Mitchell has set “the cats among the songbirds!” Shoo kitties, back to your own article!

Okay, everything under control so, back to the songbirds.

I am uncertain of what these following bird forms should be called/represent? But I did feel they should be included. I think they are more songbirds than ducks, chicks or doves?

These first two are very different - quite strange little creatures.

And these will be a “jaw dropper” for many collectors:

Not only are these forms unlike any other Chalet bird pieces shown here in styling, they are also distinct in that they are filled with tiny silver inclusions. Chalet Maestro Bruno Panizzon called them “silver sparkles” when I asked him about this. Very different from the forms that we have seen, like the Chalet polar bears, in which silver foil were used. The effect here is much more ethereal. The tiny silver flecks shimmer and appear iridescent in the light. They reflect different colours depending on their surroundings. Bird form at lower left is another stunner from the collection of Kevin Hall.

So, a little bird told me (actually there were 3) that you have had enough reading for now and would like to see more Chalet instead. Well, I certainly can provide that. And maybe enhance your viewing pleasure with a great “bird song”: