Topic: Bollicine Vase - Italian, Scandi, Polish, Czech?!

[langhaugh]

Carolyn, Most Chalet is signed, although there is some disagreement on that as some people have said that 25% of the production left the the factory with only a foil or paper label.  I don't think this piece is Chalet. Here's a link that seems to be the most coherent, if not necessarily 100% accurate,  summary of Chalet history I've seen. http://antique67.com/articles.php?article=79 The article includes a link to a Chinese company that is producing reproduction Chalet.

I found the link in an ongoing, often rambling, discussion board. It's interesting reading as, although it's focussed primarily on Chalet glass, it also gives a clear indication of the problems face by collectors seeking attributions for their pieces or trying to create a history of a company. The thread has contributions from some of the founders of the company and their relatives. It also has links to  some video clips shot at the Chalet furnaces in Cornwall, Ontario. The link is: http://www.canadiandesignresource.ca/officialgallery/?p=594

David

[Max]

I wrote to Michel Blais in 2005 and received this reply:

Hi Max,
Not all Chalet glass are signed.
A lot of them(esp. ash trays) were made in assembly line when it was fashionable to smoke(before the 50's). There was an interesting article on Murano ash trays in Architectural Digest a few months ago.
Thank you for your enquiry,


Yu-Jin on behalf of Michel Blais Gallery

[langhaugh]

Max:

True enough about the ashtrays, although some of them are signed. The good Chalet (the stretched pieces) are usually signed, certainly the ones in the Michel Blais Gallery are. He used to have a very nice gallery in downtown Vancouver with incredibly high prices for Chalet.  The last time I saw the gallery he was operating in the basement of a Caribbean restaurant and much of his Chalet glass was displayed on the open beams above the restaurant. Quite sad and bizarre. BTW, his site is up again, although with a limited amount of Chalet on it.

David

[Max]

You know what David?  I've never even handled a piece of Chalet glass!  Isn't it a shame? :cry:  I could really do with buying a piece - I think I'll start watching out for it actually.     And I agree - it's very sad if Michel Blais doesn't have somewhere suitable to display his collection...it certainly seems that in the rafters of a restaurant wouldn't give the best conditions for viewing! 

...But I suppose better than packed up in boxes somewhere? 

[langhaugh]

I can never figure out why I'm somewhat attracted to Chalet, but I do have a few pieces.  Handling them does make a difference, as they're quite substantial. There should be a few pieces in Britain as Chalet had a sales office in Britian for a short while. It might be very few pieces, however, as there must be a reason the sales office was open for only a short time.

You're right about better off being somewhat visible than in boxes. It's just than whenever I see them there, I'm reminded we're in an earthquake zone.

David

 

[Max]

I hope he uses Museum Gel then!  It's bad enough with teenagers and cats, let alone earthquakes!!!