Canadian Vintage Art Glass: EDAG, Chalet and Lorraine Cats & Dogs

In today’s blog, it's going to be raining cats and dogs! The glass kind, of course. We'll be exploring some of the feline and canine creations from three Canadian vintage glasshouses: namely EDAG, Chalet, and Lorraine. Each glasshouse put its own unique spin on these beloved animals, with some resembling Murano counterparts while others ventured into more distinct territory. The shapes, sizes, and colours vary greatly among the three, each unveiling a story of artistic evolution during its time.

Both EDAG and Chalet have featured animals in their catalog pages discovered to date. However, in the very limited catalog pages of Lorraine, there has been no sighting of any animals. Chalet, known for its frequent use of acid etching, has enabled correct identification of many animals through a combination of catalog pages and etchings. For EDAG, many pieces have lost their stickers over the years, and the animals have been identified using the EDAG book, "Maestro Danilo Pavanello & EDAG," along with input from Maestro D. Pavanello himself or through pieces from his personal collection. As for Lorraine, the few we've identified have either appeared with a sticker at some point or been attributed through a process of elimination. However, many still remain in an attribution limbo unless proven otherwise.

So far, many Chalet animals have been meticulously documented, but there has been a noticeable gap for EDAG and Lorraine. Unfortunately, this gap will persist for Lorraine. Nevertheless, we can certainly start closing some of the knowledge gaps we've encountered with EDAG. For the purpose of comparison, we'll examine the distinct styles of cats and dogs from all three glasshouses, shedding light on the EDAG dogs, which are now not just catalog photos but tangible pieces.

EDAG Cats and Dogs

The EDAG dogs come in two distinct forms: figurines and a more utilitarian deep-bodied design. The deep-bodied dogs feature a functional cavity, suitable for storing trinkets or perhaps even flowers. The body extends into a neck, culminating in a charming dog face. With its large droopy ears and diminutive arms, this dog form offers a unique twist on the more common dog figurines.

Additionally, EDAG crafted two types of dog figurines, both depicting an adorable upright dog with large curly ears. The variation lies in the base of the piece: one dog stands as is, with its lower body serving as the base, while the other is perched upon the EDAG disc base. Dogs on the disc base may showcase a single inner colour or a two-toned design, as depicted in the image below. Those without a disc base are typically found in two-tone colour schemes. These dogs often appear in one of EDAG's favourite colour combinations: blue and amber. Their eyes and noses are typically small applied circles of glass, predominantly in blue but occasionally in red. The arms and tail extend from the body, while the legs are fashioned as indents on the sides, resembling the lower leg and thigh of a seated animal.

The figurine without a disc base comes in two sizes: a larger one standing at 9.5 inches tall and 5.5 inches wide (from tail to extended arms), and a smaller version measuring 6 inches tall and 3 inches wide. Additionally, there's mention of a medium-sized figurine expected to be approximately 7.5 to 8 inches tall and 4 inches wide. The medium and small sizes were produced in larger quantities, whereas the large dog is a rarer find. Both sizes are commonly found in amber and blue, featuring blue applied noses and eyes.

The dog on the disc base measures 8.5 inches tall and 5 inches wide, with 1 inch of its height attributed to a Cristallo disc base. This particular dog is unique in having red eyes and nose. Its body showcases both blue and amber glass, and its slightly upturned nose gives the impression of a dog sniffing the air.

For the EDAG cat there has yet to be one found within the Canadian vintage art glass community and is only featured in the catalogue pages within the EDAG book.

Chalet Cats and Dogs

Chalet has crafted two variations of dog figurines and two variations of cat figurines, each appearing in a range of two-tone color schemes, with crystal clear being predominant, especially for those from the Rieke's Chalet line. From the Riekes catalogue page, we encounter two dog forms, one of which, the poodle form, is depicted in crystal below. The second form remained elusive to me, existing only as a catalog photo until recently when I managed to find one with 'A Cameron Quality Gift' label. The poodle boasts indents forming the front and back legs, with pronounced ears looping away from the piece, topped with the traditional poodle top knot of hair. Its nose, very rounded and adorned with a circular piece of glass, adds to its charm. The tail stands upright, running along the back of the body. They measure approximately 7-9” in height. The second dog features a lower body that resembles the two crystal clear cats below, with slender legs and a similar tail. Its snout is more slender, with indented eyes, and its ears are sleek, indicative of a short-haired breed, unlike the curly-haired poodle. This dog stands at 6.5 inches tall and measures 3 inches wide at its base. I am thrilled to present a photo of this rare dog below.

Chalet's cat figurines come in two forms, one resembling the dog and the other sporting a long upright tail while positioned on all fours. Let's dissect the cat resembling the dog first, seen in crystal, with indents representing its front and back legs. The ears are upright, pulled from the head, and it features applied eyes and a nose. The eyes, thin pieces of glass slanted upwards, have been likened to the "scowlin/gangry cat" look, although I interpret it as an attempt to capture a cat's unique eye shape. This particular eye shape is reminiscent of Murano cats, notably those created by the legendary Alfredo Barbini, again indicating the influence of Venetian glass blowers on these Canadian pieces. These figurines measure approximately 8” in height.

Murano "angry" cats (Barbini)

The second cat shape portrays a more playful feline on all fours, tail straight in the air. These pieces lack applied eyes or noses; instead, they are sculpted from a single piece of glass and molded into desired shapes. They come in a variety of two-tone color schemes as well as crystal, ranging in size from 8 to 9 inches in height.

The main differences between these Chalet Glass cats, beyond color, lie in the shape of their tails and overall form. The cat below has a more pronounced curl in its tail, along with a distinct arch in its back and detailed tooling around the neck, which defines its head more clearly. In contrast, the cat above that has a straighter back near the tail and less head-to-back definition.

Lorraine Cats and Dogs

For Lorraine, as previously mentioned, there are considerable gaps in our knowledge. We've only encountered one type of Lorraine cat figurine, characterized by a face similar to the Chalet cat, sporting what's been dubbed "angry eyes" created using thin pieces of applied glass. Indents running along the front of its body mimic front legs, extending into little paws. The upright tail towers over the cat's body, which appears hunched with an arched back. Additionally, it features a clear glass applied nose. These cats have been observed in amber/blue color schemes and stand approximately 6.5 inches tall.

Regarding Lorraine's dogs, we've identified two distinct forms, each confirmed within the Canadian vintage glass community due to their accompanying stickers. One of these dogs manifest as the "hound dog" and the other is a sitting upright dog, reminiscent of the two forms seen for Chalet. The hound dog earns its moniker owing to its resemblance to the breed, featuring a larger snout and prominent droopy ears. Clear glass accents adorn the ears, nose, and tail, while the inner body exhibits two-tone colorways like amber and blue. These hound dogs measure 5-6” in height and 5.5-6” in width.

The other Lorraine dog bears a striking resemblance to the Murano Jordan Imports Co (JI Co.) dog and is often mistaken for it. Positioned upright, it boasts less indented front and back legs, instead showcasing small paws emerging from the main body. The face highlights pronounced dog jowls, evoking a dog with a larger snout. Its eyes, crafted from colored glass, add a distinctive touch, as seen in the example below featuring green eyes and nose. The tail, akin to those seen on EDAG dogs, extends from the main body. The inner body also exhibits two-tone hues, observed in blue/green, purple/blue, and amber/blue. These dogs range in size from 9 inches down to 7.5 inches in height.

Post Script:

Maestro Danilo Pavanello & EDAG

For anyone interested in both the accurate history and glass reigning from EDAG, you can purchase your own copy of the EDAG book sourced from and in collaboration with the Maestro and owner of EDAG by clicking here.