LORRAINE, CANADIAN BLUE GLASS CENTERPIECE, C. 1962-74

This Space Age Electric Blue Glass Centerpiece was manufactured by the Lorraine Glass Co., Montreal, Quebec, Canada and dates 1962-1974. In the early years of Lorraine Glass production, it was a major competitor of Chalet Glass of Montreal until 1963, at which time, Chalet Glass moved to Cornwall, Ontario. The centerpiece has four arms, two of which curl upward, and the other two extend straight out from the center. Ideal for a contemporary or modernistic home décor! (See Chalet Glass history and its competitors mentioned below).

COMMENT: A Fabulous Decorative Piece that is very appropriate for any room in ones home!

HISTORY OF CHALET GLASS:

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT CHALET GLASS?

First of all, the origins of it were founded in Murano, Italy in the late 1940’s to the early 1950’s. It was the kind of free blown glass that broke away from the traditional Venetian glass styles and awakened a new dawn and era in glass making. One must remember that the world was just after passing through the Second World War and had to greet the upswing of the 1950’s. What a better way to get out of the doldrums of the war years to greet things that were bright, flippant, spontaneous and eye catching than to produce such glass that would eventually grace many Canadian homes of the Fabulous Fifties and Sixties. By now the world was taking on a new persona. Americans were chasing the American Dream as Canadians followed behind. Colors were bright and cheerful, although at times, a little kitschy whether it was in the home or at the “Fifties Diner” where music blared on the old juke boxes… all of which created a time of freedom and upbeat tempo of being carefree and light in thought and wanting to fall in love.

Once people saw this kind of glass for sale in stores, everyone had to have a piece or two to decorate the glass coffee table or the chrome kitchen table. It just gave that special lift everyone was looking for. It brightened up the kitchen as the sunlight shone throughout the kitchen window and danced off on these glass pieces and sprayed ribbons of color across the room. Of course it was happy! Whether a piece of this glass was displayed on a mantle, kitchen table or bedroom bureau, it did not matter; it just brought an aura of beauty, peace and pleasantness to any room graced by its presence.

As we were leaving the “Fabulous Fifties”, we were now approaching the Psychedelic “Space Age” of the Sixties. Now the world was thinking of Space and the wonders beyond. We were all craving change and new things in our world. The idea of our new era being the “Age of Space” or the “Space Age” was now another new dawn that lent itself great inspiration to many great artists to demonstrate their great brilliance in every walk of life throughout the world. Glass was but one way of doing this. Glass makers have always been novel, bold and eye-stopping; they have captured the eyes and hearts of many for years with their inventions and new ways of looking at the world through their medium… glass.

Glass has captured many, from the kings and queens of England and other countries to the presidents of the United States to the World wide. Glass never ceases to amaze. Glass just seems to have an effect on everyone who looks at or touches it. It is emotional!

One does not have to necessarily understand it to enjoy it. It just has that kind of effect. From the rich man to the poor man, everyone can enjoy the beauty of glass. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder! This is why some collectors and dealers call this kind of glass “Space Age Glass”.

This is definitely the effect that this glass had on many. First of all, when it was first produced, it was sold at fairly reasonable prices, but not necessarily cheap, on the other hand not expensive. So whoever liked it, could manage to buy a piece. From this perspective, it was a guaranteed success.

The concept of Chalet glass originated from Murano, Italy in the fact that Murano glass like this was being shipped out from Italy and was being imported into Montreal through Birks, a world renowned jewelry, china and glass shop in Montreal since the turn of the century (circa 1900), in the early1950’s and was very salable and successful. However one day they basically decided that enough was enough… meaning that many pieces were arriving broken? So what do we do? What better idea than to get some of these glass makers to come to Canada to do what they were doing there. This way everyone would be happy, the glass blowers do their jobs, less glass broken, and everyone make a profit. So Birks commissioned out the work to these glass makers and Birks would sell it for them. Since I have been selling this kind of glass, I have come across a double acid etched signature of “Chalet” in conjunction with the Birk”s logo of two capital letters “B” back to back to each other.

WHAT IS CHALET GLASS?

Well now we know some of its origin and inspiration and from whence it came. From researching, listening to some collectors and dealers alike who have diversified opinions?, I am of the opinion one gathers better research on his own through reading, traveling, visiting glass houses (factories) and museums than to rely on hearsay of the uninformed. I have always been an avid researcher and enjoy digging up the best possible information that I can and then analyze it before disseminating it. On many occasions it is not always easy to find accurate details as any researcher knows. However one always uses discretion when eliminating the possibilities of any situation. The same goes for research. One has to eliminate the half truths or fabrication from the reality of the situation and logically come to a correct analysis.

Apparently an Italian glass company by the name of “Murano Glass Inc., operated a glass shop in Montreal from 1960-1962. Research about glass produced in Canada, sometimes can be sketchy (little or none) and somewhat anecdotal.

Chalet Glass Company presumably started in Montreal about 1960 or so and about 1963 moved to Cornwall, Ontario. From research, I gather that the Chalet factory operated here until around 1981 and was eventually sold to a glass company by the name of Rossi Artistic Glass Inc. situated in Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada. So this was the end of Chalet as we knew it.

This modernistic blown glass was made in Montréal, Canada and later in Cornwall, Ontario and was of supreme quality. It always had unique shapes, electric and intense colors that captured those who looked at it. With its shimmering glow and refraction of light what could it be but crystal? Yes my dear friends, it was blown lead crystal, not plain blown glass and was top quality. This glass ran its gamut for a good portion of twenty or so years in Canada and won the hearts of all.

Some of this glass that I have found over the years had only foil labels; others had only the acid etched signature “Chalet”; and others had both the foil label and the acid etched signature.

There were a few other competitors of this glass in Canada, one being The Lorraine Glass Co. of Montreal which survived from about 1962-1974. A few other Czechoslovakian factories operating in the 1950’s that did not compare… for example “Alta” glass in Alberta. The glass of this factory has a watery or rippled effect where the extensions turn, whereas Chalet or Murano has a clear and pleasant flow in its graceful turns. Chalet glass has a very electric look and feel. The other glass is basically blown glass and not blown crystal.

CONDITION: Excellent!