To Dream the Impossible Dream - finding a Chalet Madonna

This article was inspired by a chat I had with fellow collector and 50 Shades member Dustin Rusnell. He had been reading the Chalet “Unicorns” article and checking out the Gallery section showcasing many of these pieces. We got talking about the Chalet Madonna. In our opinions, the ultimate Chalet unicorn is this figurine. I am hoping that this article will trigger a discovery of this elusive piece! That has happened before – we talk about hoping to find an unseen treasure and a post with a collector having found it appears like magic. Fingers (and toes) crossed that history will repeat itself.

 I have never seen this Chalet piece. However, I have known of its existence since the 2010 Chalet exhibit in Cornwall as Mario Panizzon, son of Chalet Maestro Bruno Panizzon, shared a 1962 article (Cognac, Marcel. How Canada Makes Venetian Glass. Canadian Weekly, Sept 8-14, 1962. Page 10.) in which it was featured.

During the exhibit, Chalet artist Antonio Tedesco, shared these photographs of one of the Chalet showrooms with me. I was so excited to spot the figurines in the pictures.

Chalet factory showroom. Date unknown. Antonio Tedesco with his niece, Fiorella Pagnin, and nephew, Francesco Pagnin. See the circles for the Madonna figurines.

The figurines were blown in small quantities in limited runs only a few times each year. They were not intended for general decoration but were produced for a specific purpose – to be used as rosary holders. They were typically given as baptism/christening or confirmation gifts. Chalet also produced pieces that were used during the eucharist services.

We have discovered a Mosaic Artistic Glass Madonna figurine.

It is not as detailed or refined as the Chalet design.

Mosaic’s Madonna is more similar to the figurines made by Jordan’s Importing Co.

This 1967 JICO. Catalogue page courtesy of 50 Shades member Darlene Spence.

JICO produced these pieces for more than one year – Madonna’s are also featured in another catalogue. Date unknown.

And the Jordan Imports Madonna carried by Sears in 1967.

Rossi produced this style of cranberry Madonna rosary holder at Rossi Artistic Glass in Cornwall.

From the collection of 50 Shades member Paolo De Marchi.

And a slightly different style, although still in cranberry, at Rossi Glass in Niagara Falls in later years.

From the collection of 50 Shades member John Poindexter.

This lovely example of an Altaglass figurine from the collection of group member Angie Herperger: