afternoon with the Chalet artists/photo shoots/"Topo Gigio" sale

[deborah]

Hi everyone,

Had an amazing day yesterday - I met with Maestros Panizzon, Gatto and Guaranieri in Cornwall again as per my post re having dinner a few weeks ago. We did the photo shoot - the artists were great! The photographer was really pleased as he said sometimes "older gentlemen" can be very stiff and uncomfortable but the guys were relaxed and smiling and feel that they are ready for their screen tests! I demand agent rights - they will not escape us so easily!LOL

Gianfranco has decided to go ahead with selling "Topo Gigio"LOL - I guess you have to be a certain age to remember Ed Sullivan's pal. I will be listing "him" on e-bay as soon as I get the pictures from the photographer but will give you guys a heads up - the figurine is pure crystal - an artist's sample that Gianfranco blew circa 1968 for N.C. Cameron (it is stickered). It was intended for the American market as they demanded a different line of product - the reason you see so many pure crystal pieces for Riekes and N. C. Cameron. He is 8 inches tall and weighs 7 LBS 14 OUNCES - an absolutely massive figurine. The figure will be accompanied by an autographed picture of Gianfranco in the studio with the glass, a short bio re Gianfranco and a signed guarantee of authenticity. Am very excited and curious - we have never seen anything being offered by a Chalet artist on e-bay before - let alone a stickered, guaranteed Chalet artist's sample, by that artist, that never made it into production! A rare opportunity for collectors!

I have schedulled 3 days of shooting here on March 29, 30 and 31st - you will see many changes on the website after that! Obviously alot more inventory being added, but also pics of the artists, corrections and a reorganization of the "Shop" section to accomodate requests and suggestions that I have greatly appreciated from users - thank you! I will also be able to list those uranium pieces we have all been waiting for. Most fun for me - all my collection will be shot as it is displayed in my home so the "Showcasing Your Collection" pages on the site will now have pictures and I will be adding more to the "Private Gallery" pages which you know are my/friends/family personal pieces. Will have to take a new head count for that - something I avoid doing when my husband is aroundLOL.

The new reference guide "The Shapes and Colours of Chalet Glass" will also flow from these shoots. It will include tons of pictures of course but alot of original Chalet reference material from the artists - especially from Maestro Gatto! I will also be including a few reception pictures of the exhibit as the program (only 2 left) will no longer be available and will not be reprinted. Look for it probably mid to end of May. Every piece is guaranteed to be signed/stickered/catalogue number.

Another big surprise will be launched in September! Hint - result of the shoot!

And then the 2nd edition of the reference guide "Chalet Marks, Labels and Product Lines" will be available in October. It will include the new hang tag (still need a Simpsons please!!!!), original Chantili advertising!!!!!, TONS of new and updated info and OF COURSE correctionsLOL-this will really update the expand the "Similar yet Different" sections and quiz as have learned so much and the glass blowers have given me so much background on other Montreal glass houses that they worked for before, during and after Chalet.

I would love input re the guides so if you have requests, suggestions (both critical and complimentary of the existing publications welcome) or markings etc (Simpsons - again!) that you would like to see included - please private message me. I have really benefitted from those re the site changes you will see so am not just blowing hot air here!

Well - another huge post LOL

Deborah

[Glassman]

It would be really great if you could clear up what the Giovanni line was.Also do you have any Giovanni label pictures?

[deborah]

Hi Glassman,

"Creations Giovanni" was a boutique sticker used by a boutique (we think out of Montreal) on BOTH unmarked pieces of Chalet and Lorraine glass. I have seen the Giovanni sticker on a green Chalet basket and an amber Lorraine stretch and I sold a long time ago an orange Lorraine stretch that had that sticker - I just went hunting and found the pics I used. Had totally forgotten I had saved them - they are bad! So thank you!!!!!!!!!!LOL I have also attached a pic of the green Chalet basket with the Giovanni sticker.

When I first starting researching Chalet - I thought "Creations Giovanni" was a studio that one of the Chalet Giovannis (Giovanni Voltalina and Giovanni Botaro) started up after Chalet went under. Nope - met Master Giovanni Voltalina at the exhibit and he is still blowing glass in Merrickville, Ontario. Giovanni Botaro is deceased and worked with the very small molded pieces (Chalet 1970's) so would not have had the skill or experience to produce such pieces. Moreover, we had the green Chalet basket at the exhibit and so were able to show the artists and ask them "Who?What?Why?When?" That's when I really started finding out about all these many, many weird labels you see on unmarked and marked pieces of Chalet.


So - not a line but just a sticker that a boutique used to make it look like they were producing those pieces.

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"Creations Giovanni" , boutique labels and the "Made in Canada" generic label that Chalet used is in the "Chalet Marks, Labels and Product Lines" reference guide.

Hope this helps!

Deborah

[Glassman]

Yes that helps a lot,i had a few like that orange one.Thats my new mission to find another Giovanni label.

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