Chalet Bells
While I do enjoy the research into the longer and very detailed articles, I must admit to being relieved when others are “short and sweet.” Change is good! And, not only for me as these short and sweet articles mean that I do not have to bug as many collectors for help! That being said – appreciation to Campbell Patterson and Josh Dolstra for helping present several photographs used here in the best possible way. And to Chalet artist Roberto De Marchi for providing details about Chalet production of this form. So, let’s talk about the Chalet bells!
The bell form is one of the lesser known and scarcer seen Chalet forms. They are hand molded pieces. The bells had their own distinct molds with a clamshell closure to imprint pattern. The handles were applied after the molten glass was placed in the molds. These forms would have been worked by a 2-man team - Master and apprentice.
Made only in clear crystal or cranberry. 2 different sets:
Hand molded set in clear crystal and cranberry.
I call this style “the upside-down wine glass” bell. It is the only design with a smooth skin (surface). Made in a wooden mold. To achieve this surface perfection, skill and attention were needed. Photograph courtesy of Bradley Atkinson.
The bells were not made in great numbers as, in Canada, they were primarily intended to be part of a Eucharist set. Therefore, consumer demand was both quite limited and specific.
A Eucharist set:
A 50 Shades member collaboration - pieces from the collection of Paolo De Marchi and photograph courtesy of Josh Dolstra.
In the United States, they were distributed by Riekes Crisa and marketed as decorative/dinner bells although no Chalet bells are shown in either of the Riekes catalogues that I have. However, I can show you original advertising from an American newspaper in which a selection of Riekes Crisa “Chalet” lead crystal is promoted with 3 styles of the bells shown in this article being featured:
A 1973 Boscov’s sale promotion. Still operating today, Boscov's Inc. is a family-owned department store chain with 51 locations across the states of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware Maryland, Ohio, Connecticut, West Virginia and Rhode Island. This particular advertisement ran in The Pottstown Mercury which was a Pottstown, Pennsylvania publication. In today’s Canadian dollars, this 1973 US $12 regular value to $4.99 reduction translates to a 2026 $111.26 CDN regular price reduced to $46.26. Interestingly, as I write this, there is currently a Chalet/Riekes Crisa cranberry (the fourth style shown below) bell being sold online for $196.87 US (plus shipping) which translates to $269.34 CDN. Puts this into perspective!
We have discovered fewer than a dozen of these forms to date. However, whether they are clear or cranberry, there are shared characteristics among even this limited sampling.
Firstly, the only original branding that we have seen on any, to date, has been the black Chalet/Riekes Crisa palette-shaped label.
From the collection of Gionny Gueli.
Secondly, whatever the style, their handles are consistently decorative, applied and clear crystal.
Photographs courtesy of Gionny Gueli.
Thirdly, they very often have retained their original interior clappers/clangers. These are little crystal balls on a lightweight, twisted metal chain.
Photograph courtesy of Gionny Gueli.
The cranberry of this set had a piece of lead shot instead of the crystal ball. The lead shot would have been added by a collector to replace the bell’s missing crystal ball. This would not have been done by Chalet.
This looks like a fishing line sinker weight.
When the bells were shaken, the clapper/clanger would hit the sides of the form and produce sound. Dwain Robertson demonstrates:
Lastly, they are quite consistent in height and diameter. Even between different styles. Typically ranging just under 9 inches in height to 9 1/2 inches and with diameters ranging from 5 to 6 inches.
Bell at left is 8 ¾ inches high with a 5 inch base. Bell at right is 9 inches high with a base diameter of 6 inches. From the collection of Gionny Gueli.
4 styles in cranberry have been verified:
Please note that Fenton produced a bell form extremely similar (in both handle and body shape) to this Chalet style. From the collection of Paolo De Marchi.
8 3/4” in height and 5 “ at base diameter. If Hemingway asks: this bell tolls for Gionny Gueli.
9 ½” in height and 5 ½” in diameter at base opening.
Only 2 styles in clear crystal have been discovered at present.
Photograph courtesy of Bradley Atkinson.
9” high by 6 “ diamter. From the collection of Gionny Gueli.
Video courtesy of Gionny Gueli.
At time of writing, I have no evidence that Altaglass, Lorraine Glass Industries or EDAG produced bells. However, I can show you Rossi made forms of same:
Rossi bells can be found branded with stickers, hang tags or impressions. I have found several styles but in cranberry only.
