Never say Never

I have a few “sayings” about Chalet – those of you that know me know that “Never say Never” and “The only consistency with Chalet is its inconsistency” are ones I trot out most frequently. This article is going to concentrate on the “Never say Never.”

 So, what does this mean? Well, I recognized very early on in my collecting that although the vast majority of Chalet pieces were production pieces, there seemed to be a constant cropping up of more limited or truly unique pieces also produced by the company. This was confirmed by the    Chalet artists themselves when I met them through coordinating the 2010 retrospective “ The Art and Artisans of Chalet Glass”. Not only were there pieces on display in the show from other collectors that I had never seen before such as the moulded, embossed mushroom “blocks,” large bottles or sapphire blue/olive green divided pieces but Maestro Bruno Panizzon, who had been with Chalet virtually from start to finish, was utterly shocked by many of the forms and styles that we were able to showcase. Most notably, the paperweights, the uranium pieces, pieces with “winged and feathered” design stylings.

 How does “Never say Never” impact your collecting? Well, don’t start assuming that an unmarked piece could be Chalet just because you would like it to be or because you “think” it looks like a marked piece. Similarities can mean very little as the glasshouses of the Chalet era were not only influenced by each other  but by worldwide trends. Therefore, many pieces that are almost identical are in fact produced by totally separate companies. Case in point:

The “buddha belly” owl on the left is etched “Chalet Canada.” The smaller one on the right “buddha belly” is a FM KONSTAGLAS piece made in Ronneby, Sweden.

The clear crystal (background) and the blue avventurina and bullicante (right foreground)“buddha belly” are both etched “Chalet Canada.” The grey owl (left foreground) is another FM KONSTAGLAS piece.

However, you should always turn over everything and anything while you are out and about. Sooner or later, I guarantee you will find a “Never say Never”. Here are just a few I have/had in my collection over the years. They are all verified Chalet – marked and/or in catalogs.

Some of my Chalet/Don Shephard vases and bottles. All shown here are etched “Chalet Canada.”

This quirky little Chalet piece shown above retains a Chalet “Canadiana Cranberry” hang tag and a Chalet inventory sticker used as a price stickeron its base. It was priced at $7.00.

My Chalet “belly button” vase. Etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature.

One of my favourites - a mouthblown piece. Etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature.

A very unique vase. “Mr. Big” is etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature.

Another mouth blown vase. I was very fortunate to have purchased this from the family of one of the Chalet artists - Maestro Giovanni Voltalina. He was there when it was created by Chalet owners and Maestri Pagnin and Tedesco.

My Chalet “breast implant.” An extremely unusual and one-of-a-kind bullicante piece etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature.

another rare bullicante piece. This ashtray is also etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature.

Exceedingly rare Chalet forato piece. Chalet only did this form for about a year and in extremely low numbers. To date, it is the only Chalet forato form that we have found. Also seen in amber. Etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature.

One of my most treasured pieces - given to me by Chalet Maestro Giulio Gatto. The a ghiaccio technique seems to have been only used on the Chalet lemons and oranges.

This unique centerpiece has the corroso finish.

Etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature.

Another favourite. Engraved with the “Chalet Canada” signature. It also retains a Birks inventory sticker.

This super rare elephant is described in the Riekes catalog as “crystal and smoke” and is from their “82704 Animal Assortment.”

2 Chalet bells from their eucharist sets. Used in church services. Both retained their Riekes Crisa stickers.

No - not EDAG art glass. Both are etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature. Maestro Panizzon flatly refused to believe that these were “Chalet” until he saw the signatures. The olive basket was on display in Cornwall and the amber centerpiece is in “Chalet Crystal Clear.”

Chalet opaline pieces. The polar bear is signed while the elephant retains its original hang tag.

Some Chalet paperweights. The orange iris piece was on display at the “Art and Artisans” show. The first of the surprises for the artists. None of them had been aware that Chalet had produced paperweights. All are stickered and/or etched.

Some of embossed, molded “blocks”. The owls also come in 1 and 4 configurations. To date, we have only found the mushroom in this form. All are etched “Chalet Canada.”

A very unusual piece. Etched with the “Chalet Canada” signature. The large crystal twist vase behind it is 17” in height and was the piece that “flipped” me from decorating with the glass to being a passionate collector.

This figurine shocked me as if had not been marked, I would have said “Never”. It also bears the etching that was done for Eatons.

These are few examples of Chalet “colouring outside the lines.” So, “Never say Never” and always take a few seconds to see if that piece that “couldn’t be
Chalet” might actually cause you to have a moment!

Please note that the caption picture of this etched “Chalet Canada” bird figurine is not of a piece from my collection. It is a piece on display at the Cornwall Community Museum. However, I have been fortunate to see and hold it! Photo courtesy of the museum curator and 50 Shades member Don Smith.