The iconic fazzoletto, Italian for "handkerchief", vase was created in 1948 by designers Fulvio Bianconi and Paolo Venini for the renowned Murano glass manufacturer Venini. Their whimsical design mimics a falling, fluttering, handkerchief as it drifts weightless and downward. This form is not created in a mold – it is hand-blown and requires skill and concentration involving several highly coordinated steps:
Initial Blowing: the Maestro gathers molten glass on the canna, blowing it into a bulb shape.
Cutting the Opening: while the glass is still glowing hot and pliable, the top of the bubble is cut entirely open using specialized shears.
The "Mano Volante": then, using the mano volante (flying hand) technique, the artist rhythmically swings and swiftly spins the blowpipe. Centrifugal force forces the glass to flare outwards, creating the signature ruffles and asymmetric peaks of a handkerchief. This centrifugal force and gravity shape the glass into cascading folds that resemble fabric caught in the wind. Because the movement of the glass is dictated by fluid dynamics rather than a rigid mold, each fazzoletto vase is unique from the next.
Shaping & Cooling: the folds are then gently refined using wooden paddles (Chalet used pear wood), palette knives, or tweezers. The vase is then carefully transferred to the cooling kiln, annealer, where it is left to cool and harden.
The Chalet fazzoletto vase, inventory #B54, is not featured on the 1963 “Items Available” catalogue sheet.
However, it is found on two later productions sheets.
On both of these pages, only one production height of 7 inches is shown.
A “close to” 7-inch fazzoletto. Its lowest fold is 6-inches, but height is determined by the highest fold.
An comparison with another in my collection. The folds in the olive are much more consistent in height. And pretty much right on that 7” production standard.
However, the handkerchief vase is seen in other heights.
the olive vase here stands almost 12 inches and the “cranberry in crystal” is the 7 inch height from the inventory page.
From the collection of Pierre Denis.
The Chalet handkerchief has been found in “cranberry in crystal”, solid cranberry, clear crystal, the blue/green 2-tone, shades of olive and amber and “ice” uranium.
Examples of each are shown throughout the article.
There are two very common and obvious style differences found among these vases. Both can be explained by their method of making – see above.
Firstly, the range of diameters widths seen between forms is quite pronounced. The diameter greatly impacts the overall appearance of this form.
And the number and depth of the “handkerchief” folds.
These will be in direct relation to the width of the vase. The wider the vase – the more and the more elaborate the folds.
This gallery of clear crystal is a perfect illustration:
Vase at top right from the collection of Dwain Robertson.
No matter the diameter or the number and style of folds, there is one shared styling characteristic. The fazzoletto tapers down to a flat polished base. Although the vase is always narrower at base than at throat, the wider the diameter the wider the base and the less obvious the taper.
This vase retains a N.C. Cameron & Sons Ltd. Sticker. Typically, the Chalet fazzolettos are etched with the “Chalet Canada” branding.
The most commonly found Chalet B54 is “cranberry in crustal” handkerchief vase.
There is a huge variation of colour, colour saturation and colour placement in these vases. However, the colour is always deepest in placement and tone around the throat of the piece.
There is a great deal of variation in both shades, saturation and placement.
Photograph of this 10 inch stunner courtesy of Alex Wicks.
Occasionally, fazzolettos completely saturated throughout with cranberry colouring are also seen.
From the collection of Deborah Patterson.
Vases in other solid colours are less often seen but do pop up every now and then.
To date, these have been typically in olive or amber. As seen in the “cranberry in crystal” forms, the throat rim has the heaviest intensity of colour.
The more saturated olive vase is commoner than the “barely there” coloured. From the collection of Deborah Patterson.
Amber coloured are very rare.
From the collection of Deborah Patterson.
I love pairing them with my swans. Which display do you prefer – same colour vase matched with same colour swan?
OR
Contrasting colour vases and swans?
A handful of blue/green Chalet fazzolettos have been discovered:
This vase is almost 10-inches at tallest fold.
This blue/green vase is the production height:
From the collection of Dustin Rusnell.
Seen in a fabulous grouping:
The handkerchief form is second row, middle. Its height is obviously taller than the production height. From the collection of Marc Linder.
And this amber and red. To date, the only one of which I know in a second 2-tone.
It is a large vase at 11 inches in height. Is etched “Chalet Canada.” A bargain at $3,995.00 in a Vancouver art glass store. I have been in this store many, many times – another collector and I were actually kicked out once for not buying anything! On this occasion, I was accompanied by 50 Shades member Lori Hazuka Morin who was visiting from Calgary. We were not allowed to touch the vase, and the proprietor did not want us to take photos either. But Lori prevailed and since I was buying a ghost owl and a “Buddha belly” owl (finallyLOL), the owner relented – but not gracefully! The body of the vase is golden and the throat colour red – not cranberry.I have been back since that visit two years ago - the vase is still there. What a surprise. I had a pen UV flashlight with me on this visit and checked for uranium - it is not uranium.
This is the only uranium Chalet handkerchief of which I am presently aware.
An exceptional piece – exceedingly rare, over-sized at 10-inches in height, has a diameter of 10 ½”, weighs over 6 lbs and is etched “Chalet Canada.”
From the collection of Graham Thomas.
And the clear crystal - this one not quite as shown above.
Photograph courtesy of Jeremiah Shaver.
I am ending this article on a curious notes.
I think this is a variation. A Chalet fazzoletto with a crystal swirl base:
From the collection of Ella Hanks.
