The Barovier dynasty began in 1295, when Jacobello Barovier, mentioned in historical documents as a master glassblower, began pinching, cutting, blowing and twisting a molten mixture of sand and minerals into incandescent works of art. It remained entirely family-owned until the mid-20th century, when it merged with another glassworks to become Barovier&Toso.
Partnerships come and go within the community of glass-making artisans on the Venetian island of Murano, where business relationships seem as complex as the shifting alliances in the notoriously acrimonious Italian parliament. Formed in 1942 by members of families with centuries of experience in the craft, Barovier&Toso has proven to be one of the most enduring and prosperous Italian glass manufactories of recent decades. Under the nearly 50-year artistic directorship of cofounder Ercole Barovier (1889–1974), the company created buoyant traditional pieces such as chandeliers, sconces and other lighting fixtures, and it pioneered an array of innovative modernist glass designs with bold colors, patterns and surfaces.
To appeal to gentler, more conservative tastes, Barovier&Toso produced a range of lilting, sinuous lighting pieces that are often described as embodying “Liberty Style” — the Italian term for Art Nouveau, taken from the name of famed London department store Liberty & Co., which promoted 19th-century organic textile designs and Arts and Crafts-style furniture in the manner of William Morris. The hallmarks of the style in Barovier&Toso works are elements of glass in the shape of thick leaves, fronds and flower petals, deployed along with other naturalistic ornament in sconces, pendants and chandeliers.
Ercole Barovier began his personal aesthetic transition toward modernism in the 1930s with his Primavera series of vases and animal sculptures — idiosyncratic milky-white and clear glass filled with tiny bubbles and hairline interior fissures that he produced for Artisti Barovier, a firm headed by his father and uncle (the company also traded under Fratelli Barovier and Vetreria Artistica Barovier & C. throughout its history). Later, with Barovier&Toso, Ercole would explore such novel styles as the mosaic-like Pezzato glass; fluid Spiral patterns; the pebbly textured Barbarico line and the complex, layered and highly colored abstractions of the Oriente series of vases and bowls.
Traditional or modern, Barovier&Toso — still under family control — has produced one of the finest and most diverse catalogues of Murano glass in the last 100 years.
Shop antique Barovier chandeliers, sconces and other lighting and decorative objects on 1stDibs.
Barovier Mirror-Engraved Murano Glass w/ Gold Italian Serving Tray, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous tiny rectangular-shaped serving tray in a stunning combination of mouth-blown Murano glass with 24k gold specks inside, acid-etched mirrored glass, and gilt metal handles. ...
Gold Plate, Brass
Ercole Barovier Mirror-Engraved Murano Glass Italian Serving Tray, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury mirror-engraved Murano glass serving tray. This wonderful piece was produced in Italy during 1950s by the master Murano glass-maker of Ercole Barovier. This wonderful i...
Metal
Barovier Green Italian Serving Tray in Mirror-Etched Murano Glass, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful tiny rectangular shaped serving tray in a stunning combination of mouth-blown Murano twisted green glass, acid-etched mirror and gilt metal handles. This charming piece was...
Brass
Barovier Large Murano Serving Tray in Gold Blown Glass Etched Mirror, Italy 1940
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Splendid large round serving tray in a stunning combination of mouth-blown Murano glass with gold specks inside, acid-etched mirror and gilt metal handles. This gorgeous piece was pr...
Metal
Barovier Rectangular Serving Tray in Mirror-Engraved Murano Glass w/ Gold, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous rectangular-shaped serving tray in a stunning combination of mouth-blown Murano glass with 24k gold specks inside, acid-etched mirrored glass, and gilt metal handles. This g...
Gold Plate, Brass
$576
H 2.76 in W 16.15 in D 11.03 in
Art Deco Cut Mirror, Glass and Chrome Serving Tray, France, 1930s
Located in Barntrup, DE
Art Deco cut Mirror, glass, and chrome serving tray, France, 1930s. An elegant and classic Art Deco serving or bar tray made of a cut mirrored base with beveled details. Handles are ...
Aluminum, Chrome
Mid-Century large engraved Murano Glass Mirror Tray, Italy 1960
By Ars Murano
Located in Saarbruecken, DE
Mid-Century Murano Glass Mirror Tray, Italy 1960. romantic scene engraved. gold leaf details. large version!
Brass
$702
H 2.76 in W 18.12 in D 18.12 in
Centerpiece Serving Tray Ice Effect Lucite Nickel Willy Rizzo, Italy, 1970s
By Willy Rizzo
Located in Rome, IT
Centerpiece serving tray in ice effect Lucite and nickel frame attributed to the Italian designer Willy Rizzo, circa 1970.
Metal, Nickel
$682
H 2.37 in W 15.75 in D 15.75 in
Italian MidCentury Serving Tray Basket in Lucite, Rattan and Brass, 1970
Located in Morazzone, Varese
Italian MidCentury Serving Tray Basket in Lucite, Rattan and Brass, 1970 Gorgeous serving tray or basket, in the shape of a shell, made of Lucite, rattan and brass. Made in Italy in the 1970s. Braided rattan is cast within the Lucite acrylic material. Beautiful workmanship. The brass part is kept in original vintage version, with the patina from that time. Since the shape is as a shell, the tray inside...
Brass
$526
H 9.06 in W 24.02 in D 13.78 in
Luigi Massoni Minimalist Plastic White Bed Tray Element by Guzzini, Italy, 1980s
By Guzzini, Luigi Massoni
Located in Kirchlengern, DE
Article: Plastic tray Design: Luigi Massoni Producer: Guzzini, Italy Decade: 1980s Description: This tray table was designed by Luigi Massoni and produced by Guzzini in Italy in the 1980s. It is made from white-colored plastic and is in very good vintage condition, and would be ideal to serve breakfast in bed. It still features the original Guzzini box...
Plastic
$560
H 0.5 in W 8 in D 10.38 in
Small Cocktail Tray by Christofle, French Art Deco Silver Plated Serving Tray
By Christofle
Located in Miami, FL
French Art Deco style silver-plated serving tray from Christofle. This small cocktail tray is hallmarked on the reverse. In very good condition, wear consistent with age, materials...
Silver Plate
$1,146
H 2.76 in W 23.63 in D 15.75 in
Murano Barovier Style Vanity Tray with Etched Mirror and Twisted Glass Rope
By Barovier
Located in Prato, Tuscany
We kindly suggest you read the whole description, because with it we try to give you detailed technical and historical information to guarantee the authenticity of our objects. Iconic vanity tray with handles; the rectangular top is a mirror with rounded corners and has been skilfully ground with stone wheels from underneath depicting a courtship scene showing a courtly couple dressed in all their finery in a landscape or formal garden with architectural elements creating a complete and lively image; the upper edge of the mirror is decorated with a glass cord...
Brass
1940s Italian Mirrored Revolving Lazy Susan Centrepiece Tray
Located in London, London
Lazy susan centrepiece Revolving Wooden frame Mirrored top with etching Italy 1940s This exquisite Italian revolving centerpiece from the 1950s exemplifies mid-century design an...
Mirror, Walnut
$739Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.79 in W 23.04 in D 14.49 in
Hollywood Regency Italian Tray in Brass Faux Bamboo and Fumè Glass, 1970s
Located in Roma, IT
A splendid midcentury golden serving tray, in brass faux bamboo and fumè glass. This vintage tray is made in Italy, and datable between the 1960s and the 1970s; a functional serving ...
Brass
Large Italian Brass and Smoked Mirrored Glass Tray, 1980s
Located in Palermo, IT
Large Italian brass and smoked mirrored glass tray, 1980s Intact and in good condition, unsold from a shop in my city.
Brass
$1,053
H 1.97 in W 17.72 in D 11.82 in
Midcentury Serving Tray in Glass and Brass Fontana Arte Style, Italy 1950s
By Fontana Arte, Pietro Chiesa
Located in Rome, IT
Midcentury amazing rectangular serving tray in glass and brass with glass incisions in the style of Fontana Arte. Made in Italy in the 1950s.
Metal, Brass
$560
H 1.75 in W 14.38 in D 10.5 in
Etched Murano Glass Mirrored Tray by Ercole Barovier, Italy, 1960s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Nuernberg, DE
Created by Ercole Barovier, this piece is a beautiful Italian serving or vanity table tray edged in Murano glass rope that is embedded with clear gold flakes. Done in the style of Luigi Brusotti and Gio Ponti, the mirror is etched with Venetian romantic figures...
Mirror, Murano Glass, Wood
Sold
H 1.58 in W 13 in D 9.45 in
Ercole Barovier Mirror-Engraved Murano Glass Italian Serving Tray, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Splendid tiny rectangular shaped serving tray in a stunning combination of mouth-blown Murano glass with gold specks inside, acid-etched mirror and gilt metal handles. This gorgeous ...
Gold Plate, Brass
Sold
H 1.38 in W 13.39 in D 11.03 in
Barovier Murano Gold Blown Glass Italian Serving Tray, Etched Mirror, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Delightful serving tray in a stunning combination of mouth-blown Murano glass with gold specks inside, acid-etched mirror and gilt metal handles. This gorgeous piece was produced in ...
Metal
Sold
H 1.97 in W 19.3 in D 13.39 in
Ercole Barovier Mirror-Engraved Murano Glass Italian Serving Tray, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Midcentury mirror-engraved Murano glass serving tray. This wonderful piece was produced in Italy during 1940s by the master Murano glass-maker of Ercole Barovier. This wonderful i...
Gold Plate, Brass