The Early Chalet “1963 Items Available” production forms
The Chalet Artistic Glass “Items Available” catalogue page (shown below) was labeled “Form A-1-3 63.” The “63” indicates the year of Chalet inventory available to distributors and retailers. This first company catalogue page provides so much information – about colours, about forms, it can be used for verifications and comparisons, it gives some sense of production dates and longevity, evolution of design…
It was hand drawn so as to avoid even the suggestion of conformity from piece to piece of same style and design. However, some specific information is easily determined. Firstly, the header on the Chalet 1962 “Items Available” sheet reads “Colours; Amber - Olive - Aqua”. This tells us that in 1963, a few months from the Cornwall opening in September of 1962, Chalet was making glass in only three colours. Note that the Chalet term “aqua” refers to “blue” in colour and not to the uranium “aqua/ice” pieces.
I thought it would be interesting to take a look at the pieces on this page and provide examples of each form. Then, see what other information could be gleaned – did that design evolve, did it stay in production, what colours have we seen each in … It turned out to be possible to provide examples of all the pieces on the sheet. And, for a few pieces, exceedingly rare and very early Chalet markings as well as some original advertising.
The inventory numbers assigned to the pieces generally make sense – A for ashtray, B for basket, V for vase but then some don’t – P for a bowl, B for a centerpiece … The most striking design modification overall that was seen was an obvious move to more pronounced taller bases. The development of the toed pedestal base and higher, more defined crystal swirl bases. Why? Well, in the words of the Chalet artists, “We needed something to hang onto.” In addition, overall silhouettes became more distinct – with cleaner, sharper lines.
A comparison of these two Chalet catalogue pages and the forms featured makes this very obvious.
Presenting the “Items Available” forms starting from left top corner and working across and then down and across.
#A8 early “items Available”
Note the Chalet “furnace” label on base – bottom left photograph. This was one of the company’s earliest indicia. Chalet did not go forward with this branding. The “furnace” image was replaced with the “canna” image. For comprehensive details regarding all Chalet brandings, lines, distributors and retailers and more, please see “Chalet Crystal Clear Continued.”
#A8 design evolution
#P45 early “Items Available”
From the collection of the Zhao family.
There does not appear to have been any design evolution in this form. With that and the fact that we see this form so rarely, I do not think this style of bowl went into later years’ production runs. From the collection of 50 Shades member Daniel Lynch.
#A34 early “Items Available”
#A34 design evolution
The Chalet “tornado” ashtray.
#A42 early “Items Available”
The Chalet “splash” ashtray.
From the collection of Brad McGillivray.
#A42 design evolution
The iconic Chalet “splash” ashtray is sometime called “the low splash” by some collectors. The grouping of later “splash” ashtrays from the collection of Deborah Patterson.
#B41 early “Items Available”
From the collection of Daniel Lynch.
B41 design evolution
#BB41 early “Items Available”
This basket style is not a form that went into the later years’ production lines. It is found very rarely. This rare example is also from the collection of Daniel Lynch. Model with basket - Patricia O’Connell, circa 1963.
July 4, 1964 “Gazette” (Montreal) advertisement above courtesy of Mario Panizzon. The “Gazette” is owned by the Postmedia Network.
#B4 early “Items Available”
Another iconic chalet form - the Chalet “crossed arms” centerpiece.
#B4 later design
#A19 early “Items Available”
#A19 design evolution
The Chalet “trillium” ashtray is another instantly recognizable form. Amber ashtray from the collection of Alex Wicks.
#A1 early “Items Available”
#A1 later design
Note the base design change from flat to a 2-toed pedestal.
#A41 early “Items Available”
Olive A41 ashtray at left and early crystal vase at right from the collection of Ella Hanks. Blue A41 from the collection of Deborah Patterson.
#A41 design evolution
A very marked change in design. The later design is a very common ashtray shape to us all.
#C41 early “Items Available”
The Chalet “tornado” candle holder.
Amber candle holder at left from the collection of Deborah Patterson. Photograph courtesy of Alex Wicks. Blue owned by Jonathon Tremblay.
#C41 design evolution
Later design candleholder lights up for Malla Birns.
Early C41 design #2 and #4 and later styles #1, #3 and #5. The later style of “tornado” candle holders is slightly taller and with a more elongated body. Typical height and diameter is 4 inches by 4 inches. From piece to piece, there is slight variation.
#B44 early “Items Available”
This centerpiece did not carry forward from the early years. Red/orange piece from the collection of Bob Burgess and the honey gold from the collection of Deborah Patterson.
1963. From the Ottawa Citizen which is owned by the Postmedia Network.
#A40 early “Items Available”
This style is not a form that went into the later years’ production lines. This perforato/forato piece is found very rarely. From top let to bottom left - Pina Pina, Allen HR and Pierre Denis.
#B42s early “Items Available”
From the collection of Brad McGillivray.
Early production Chalet “splashes.” Both from the collection of Brad McGillivray.
#B42s design evolution
The “splash” vase is both a favourite and a unicorn for Chalet collectors.
#B42 early “Items Available”
This form can be very easily confused with the “splash” ashtray. I do not believe it went forward into later years production runs.
A42 “splash” ashtray at right from the collection of Dustin Rusnell.
#C44 early “Items Available”
This candleholder style is not a form that went into the later years’ production lines. It is found very rarely. This incredible set from the collection of Sylvain Dube. It is shown here with early production vase V44 - will be shown again below.
#BB44 early “Items Available”
These glorious baskets from the collection of Dwain Robertson.
February 18, 1963 “Gazette” (Montreal) advertisement. The “Gazette” is owned by the Postmedia Network. BB44 basket from the collection of 50 Shades member Daniel Lynch.
#BB44 design evolution
#V44 early “Items Available”
This vase is dated 1962 – as we know, a very significant year in Chalet’s history. Engraved with the Chalet marking “Canada Art.” Another design that did not go forward. Once more, from the collection of Brad McGillivray.
#BB1 early “Items Available”
From the collection of Daniel Lynch.
#BB1 design evolution
Another iconic form. Early design as above and later design from the collection of Deborah Patterson.
#B34 early “Items Available”
The Chalet “tornado” bowl.
#B34 design evolution
Later “tornado” design bowl at right from the collection of Nicole Giroux-Lapointe.
#B3 early “Items Available”
This piece bears the Chalet hand-engraved “Canada Art” signature.
#B3 design evolution
Later design at right from the collection of Cindy Bishop-Laughlin.
#B37 early “Items Available”
From the collection of Janet Godfrey.
#B37 design evolution
#B2 early “Items Available”
Unfortunately, this style of “longarm” stretch was not carried forward into later years production. From the collection of Jeremiah Shaver.
#B1 early “Items Available”
This gorgeous “longarm” bears the 1962 dated Chalet “Canada Art” engraving. A very rarely seen signature.
#B1 design evolution
Left from the collection of Kevin Hall. At right, a piece from the collection of Myrna Stabenow.
A Chalet company inventory sticker for this form. Typically, they are more degraded and less legible. See pages 144 through 150 in “CCCC” for more examples. As above, from the collection of Myrna Stabenow.
#A37 early “Items Available”
This piece also retains an early Chalet “furnace” label.
#A37 design evolution
#V29 early “Items Available”
From the collection of Kevin Hall.
An interesting Chalet retailer’s signature on this early V29 “spike” vase:
This is an exceptionally rare marking.
#V29 design evolution
Early “Items Available” vase in left foreground and later production vases in background and on right. Vases in this grouping from the collection of Deborah Patterson.
#V32 early “Items Available”
#V32 design evolution
The ever popular and iconic Chalet “crystal twist.” Enduring in its popularity and collectability.
#A5 early “Items Available”
From the collection of Carolyn Sebestyen.
#A5 design evolution
The base has evolved to a 2-toed pedestal and the “finger “ is much more upright.
#A35 early “Items Available”
This form did not go into future production but we have discovered it an handful of times and in a variety of colours.
The sapphire blue A35 piece from the collection of Gionny Gueli.
In summary, these 9 forms from the “Items Available” Chalet catalogue page do not appear to have moved forward into the company’s later production years.
And these 3 forms show the most significant design evolution from 1962/1963’s initial company inventory.
