Chalet Gold
Although Chalet Artistic Glass is best known, and remembered, by today’s collectors for their production of large, fantastical and vibrant hand blown, free form art glass, they also had an extensive production range of hand-blown pieces. Obviously, this includes their bomboniere, of which they produced a large number from company start to finish, but it also encompasses 4 complete and distinctive lines. Lines that are perhaps less well known or remembered – forms from Chalet’s “End of Day”, “Canadiana Cranberry”, “Opal with Gold Flecking” and “Canadian Heritage Glass” lines. I am going to concentrate on only 3 here – the lines in which Chalet used gold.
I love using classic vintage music in these Chalet videos. And Dean Martin’s signature ‘Everybody Loves Somebody” could not be a more perfect accompaniment. He released this in 1964. It had been recorded previously by other noted singers of the time but those releases did not make much of an impression. However, Dino’s rendition was different! On August 15, 1964, it did the impossible by knocking the Beatles out of their long held and seemingly immovable #1 spot on the pop charts - replacing “A Hard Day’s Night.” And it stayed incredibly popular. So much so, that in 1965, “Everybody Loves Somebody” became Dean’s theme song for his long running TV show and it has been used in many movies and TV shows. Given Chalet’s break out success and enduring popularity, a totally apt pairing.
Forgive some creative license ” as I misquote, “There’s gold in them pieces…” Like their use of uranium to produce vivid and unique colours in some of their glass, Chalet used another precious metal to enhance their artistry. Gold was used to produce a deep, rich and long lasting rubino colour. This intense ruby colouring is achieved through adding gold salts or colloidal gold to molten glass. Intended primarily for expensive decorations or ornamental art glass. The origins of cranberry glass making are unknown, but many historians believe a form of this glass was first made in the late Roman Empire.
Although these lines were hand molded, that does not mean that they were not painstakingly crafted. They required a great deal of hand work after the initial form was cool and ready to be finished. For more details, please see the article discussing Chalet’s glass blowing techniques. As well, the “Chalet Artistic Glass Collectors’ Guide and Catalogue” has extensive examples of these lines and brandings. For more details, you may also refer to “Chalet Crystal Clear”.
Each line was marked separately and distinctively and largely sold through Chalet’s major American and Canadian distributors – Riekes Crisa in the US and N.C. Cameron and Sons in Canada. These lines were purely decorative with the most readily found pieces being baskets, bowls, pitchers, tableware and vases Therefore, you do see a commonality in forms produced for each line although the glass itself is markedly different in appearance. Another shared characteristic is that many have applied feet, frills or handles. The rope handles may be twisted. Basket attachments often are the Maestro Sergio Pagnin designed “face prunts.”
Chalet’s “End of Day” pieces are distinct with their opaline and cranberry overshot. They were given a 4-sided gold and red hang tag or if being distributed by N.C. Cameron and Sons, one of that company’s labels. Chalet’s naming of this line is tongue-in-cheek. Usually the ‘end of day’ reference in glass refers to random pieces made from materials that remained at ‘end of day.’ However, this line was scheduled production work and pieces were produced within those parameters and not at random.
Chalet marketed their “Canadiana Cranberry” extensively – in press releases and in their actual branding of the pieces. They were presented as an exclusive and quality product – the line’s hang tag proclaimed the use of both solid gold and lead crystal in its making and stressed that it was mouth-blown and hand formed. The company’s pride in was summarized in the last line from its hang tag – “Canadiana CRANBERRY GLASS is destined to be tomorrow’s collector’s items.” This line was distributed by and can be found with the Riekes Crisa and N.C. Cameron labels.
This cranberry line was also purely decorative with the most readily found pieces: baskets, bowls, candleholders, cornucopia, goblets, pitchers, small art objects and vases Often, they also had applied crystal frills, feet or handles. Rope handles could be twisted. And once more, as shown in the accompanying video here, use of the Maestro Sergio Pagnin designed “face prunts” was not uncommon.
Do not confuse with the heavy leaded ‘pink’ Chalet or the cranberry in crystal heavy leaded glass pieces. Cranberry was used in those lines for the colouring but they are not hand moulded.
“Pink” Chalet. These pieces were considered seconds by Chalet as they were made with the cranberry glass remaining at the end of day production of other lines.
An interesting trio. A pitcher from the “Canadiana Cranberry” line keeps company with a set of large vases from Chalet’s cranberry in crystal line.
Lastly, forms from the “Opal with Gold Flecking” line are also hand moulded. They share some characteristics with “End of Day” pieces in that opaline and cranberry is used. However, as seen in the video and in the article mentioned earlier, Chalet used opaline and cranberry glass in these 2 lines very differently. The marking for this line is a bit confusing. In Canada, it was distributed by N.C. Cameron and Sons so was often given the same hang tag as the “End of Day” line although they are completely different in appearance. In the United States, it was distributed by Riekes Crisa and marketed as “Opal with Gold Flecking” and stickered with a label. “Opal with Gold Flecking” was not a popular line for Chalet. These pieces are found frequently enough not to be considered rare but they are scarce and can be quite a size. However, as with Chalet’s other cranberry lines, the decorative use of applied handles, petal feet and prunts is widespread.
Hope you enjoyed both the glass and the music. I would love you to comment, make a suggestion or ask a question in the “Comments” below. Promise to answer quickly!
