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Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Italian

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.

The Barovier dynasty began in 1295, when Jacobello Barovier, mentioned in historical documents as a master glassblower, began pinching, cutting, blowing and twisting a molten mixture of sand and minerals into incandescent works of art.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.

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. Later, with Barovier&Toso, he 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.

Find antique Barovier&Toso chandeliers, serveware, decorative objects and more on 1stDibs.

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Style: Art Deco
Creator: Barovier&Toso
Barovier Toso Murano Silver Gold Flecks Grapes Italian Art Glass Compote Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Gorgeous vintage Murano hand blown, silver and gold flecks with grape decoration Italian art glass compote bowl / vase. Documented to the Barovier e Toso company, circa 1930s-1940s. ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Silver Leaf, Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Gold Flecks Bullicante Art Glass Ribbed Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Barcelona, ES
Amazing hand blown Cordonato D' Oro Bullicante soft green Murano glass ribbed bowl / ashtray. Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso. Italy, 1930s This striking decorative bowl is heav...
Category

20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier Toso Murano Copper Aventurine Italian Art Glass Centerpiece Fruit Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful antique Murano hand blown copper aventurine flecks with thin purple swirl Italian art glass footed centerpiece bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for Barovier e T...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Iridescent Italian Art Deco Glass Conch Shell Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Rare large vintage Murano hand blown clear iridescent Italian art glass conch seashell sculptural bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for Barovier e Toso circa 1940s, in th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier Rostrato Murano Art Glass Basket Centerpiece Vase
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Barcelona, ES
Ercole Barovier Murano Rostrato green and clear gold flecked glass basket vase Exquisite green Rostrato Murano art glass basket vase with a tw...
Category

20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier Toso Murano Gold Flecks Green Italian Art Glass Candelabra Candleholder
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Gorgeous, and rare, large antique Murano hand blown, gold flecks with green accents Italian art glass tree shaped sculptural candelabra. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for th...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Murano Iridescent Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Seashell Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown, iridescent, gold flecks and textured Italian art glass scissor cut rim bowl. Documented to Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso, circa 1940s, in t...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Blue Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Conch Shell Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Gorgeous, monumental, vintage Murano hand blown blue with gold flecks Italian art glass seashell centerpiece sculptural bowl with pearl inside. D...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Related Items
Barovier Toso Murano Orange Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Star Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown orange and gold flecks Italian art glass star / flower shaped bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso. The piece is profu...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Alfredo Barbini Murano Sommerso Pink Art Glass Centerpiece Decorative Bowl
By Alfredo Barbini
Located in Barcelona, ES
Barbini Murano Pink Shell Art Glass Centerpiece Eye-catching extra large hand blown Sommerso pink Murano glass shell form ribbed bowl / centerpiece. Attr...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Hollywood Regency Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass, Sommerso

Barovier Toso Murano Yellow Spots Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Flower Form Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown bright yellow and gold flecks Italian art glass flower form bowl or ashtray. Documented to the Barovier e Toso company. The bowl is decorated with...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Gold Flecks Relievi Aurati Italian Art Glass Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown clear and gold flecks raised texture Italian art glass bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for the Barovier e Toso company, circa 1940. C...
Category

1940s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Bullicante Art Glass Bowl or Ashtray
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Barcelona, ES
Amazing folded rim hand blown Murano glass ashtray / bowl with gold flecks and controlled air bubbles. Attributed to Barovier e Toso. Italy, 1950s. Pink and grey glass spots and clea...
Category

20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Copper, Gold Leaf

Barovier e Toso Murano Chunky Gold Aventurine Glass Bowl Vintage
By Barovier&Toso
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning Italian vintage chunky and heavy Murano Barovier e Toso glass bowl is filled with abundant gold aventurine in the shape of a 4 leaf clover or of a flower. Mid-Century M...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Blown Glass

Barovier e Toso Vase Murano Glass 1940 Italy
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Milano, IT
Vase Barovier e Toso.
Category

1940s Italian Other Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Murano Glass

Vintage Rusty Orange Sommerso Murano Glass Bowl / Centerpiece, Italy
By Flavio Poli
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1950s - 1960s. This large bowl / centerpiece / vide-poche is made burnt orange sommerso Murano glass that has been hand-modeled. It is quite rare considering its mea...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Murano Glass, Sommerso

Barovier Toso Murano Large Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Footed Centerpiece Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and very large, vintage Murano hand blown gold flecks Italian art glass footed compote bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso, circa 1950s. The b...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Ercole Barovier Toso Italian Murano Art Glass Vase
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Ercole Barovier Toso Italian Murano art glass vase.
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Art Glass

Aqua Green Murano "Bullicante" Glass Bowl or Ashtray, Italy, Barovier 1960
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning round bowl or ashtray made in a gorgeous aquamarine Murano glass using the "bullicante" technique. This unique piece is attributed to the mastery of Barovier & Toso and was ...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass

Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Compote Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Gorgeous vintage Murano hand blown pink and gold flecks Italian art glass footed compote bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for the Barovier e Toso workshop. Created in the...
Category

1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Previously Available Items
Barovier & Toso Murano Art Glass Figure
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Dallas, TX
Presenting a lovely Barovier and Toso Murano art glass figure of a woman carrying a large corn on the cobb. By the world renowned maker of Barovier & Toso and probably made in the 1960’s. Gorgeous frosted glass with 24 carat gold flecks and highlights. The figure is a good size standing at 11.5 inches tall. One minor chip to the underside of one of the corn kernels but not visible (only exhibited by touch) and does not significantly detract from the piece as otherwise it is near mint. Barovier & Toso is an Italian company that specializes in Venetian glass. The company is one of the oldest family businesses in the world, founded in 1295 as Barovier. “The name Barovier derives from the term berroviere (highwayman/policman), which indicates the armigero (person entitled to bear arms) guarding the captain of the people. It is probable that some Barovier, originally from Treviso, settled in Murano around 1291, when a law of the Republic imposed the concentration on the island of all glass furnaces.” Jacobello was the first member of the Barovier family to work glass at this time. It is thought that the company originated in Treviso. The Toso family had been established in Murano since around 1350. In the 1400s Angelo Barovier created glass objects which are currently preserved in various museums. Angelo is recognized as significant for uniting the knowledge which had been developed and handed down by family Barovier. He was not only considered and artist but a scientist. The company became Ferro Toso Vetrerie Artistiche Riunite S.A in 1936 when Vetreria Artistica Barovier merged with Ferro Toso, specializing in crystalline glass, mother-of-pearl glass, and gold-free cornelian red glass.. In 1942, the company was renamed Barovier & Toso. In 1919–1920, 30 year old designer Ercole Barovier began a 50-year career as the artistic director of Barovier & Toso. “After studying medicine and working as a radio operator during World War One he joined the family firm in 1920 when he and his brother Nicolo took over the management from their father Benvenuto. From 1927 Ercole was the main designer and from 1934, when Nicolo left the company, (he was) also the sole owner.” While Barovier did not have formal training as a glassblower, his artistic designs produced objets d’art that have become the most critically acclaimed in the history of Ercole – Barovier. In 1930 he produced his award-winning “Primavera” series. “The Primavera series … is distinguished by a milky white ‘craquelé‘ glass with the addition of black or blue pasta vitrea trim (“opaque colored glass whose consistency is made to appear like ceramic”) and decoration. There was a very limited production of this series due to the fact that it was a result of a glass mixture obtained accidentally so it could never be replicated.” One example of this series, a Primavera Pigeon, was sold at auction for GBP 275,000 (approximately $360,000 USD, not inclusive of the buyer’s premium) on October 16, 2019. Barovier continued to produce innovative designs of which the “Lenti” vase...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier & Toso Murano Art Glass Figure
Barovier & Toso Murano Art Glass Figure
H 11.5 in W 7.5 in D 4.5 in
Ercole Barovier Murano Iridescent Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Seashell Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown, iridescent, gold flecks and textured Italian art glass conch shell bowl / ashtray. Documented to Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso, circa 1940s...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier e Toso Murano Glass 'Rostrato' Vase, 1930s
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Barcelona, ES
Barovier e Toso Murano amber and brown Rostrato glass vase, Italy, 1930s A monumental Art Deco amber Murano art glass vase made with rostrato tech...
Category

20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Art Glass, Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass

1930s Barovier & Toso Twisted Murano Glass Italian Design Picture Frame
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Brescia, IT
Twisted glass Brass details Perfect condiction.
Category

1930s Italian Art Deco Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Murano Glass

Art Deco Murano Glass by Barovier & Toso with Air Bubbles and Gold Leaf Immersed
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Vigonza, Padua
Mid-Century Modern Art Decò transparent vase , gold leaf flecks by Fratelli Toso, Murano – Venice, circa 1940. Transparent vase cordoned performed by blowing in "Bullicante" techniq...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Murano Glass

Ercole Barovier Murano Iridescent Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Seashell Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful antique Murano handblown, iridescent, gold flecks and textured Italian art glass sculptural conch shell centrepiece bowl. Documented to Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso,...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

1970' Pair of Cristal Murano Urns Red and Gold Sign Toso
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Paris, FR
Pair of red vases of Murano with gold inclusions. Good condition, circa 1970 Signed Murano Toso.
Category

1970s French Art Deco Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Crystal

Ercole Barovier Murano Gold Leaf Italian Art Glass Fruit Sculpture Candlesticks
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Very rare Murano hand blown fruit and gold leaf art glass candlesticks. Documented to master artist and designer Ercole Barovier, for Barovier ...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Gold Leaf

Barovier and Toso Pale Apricot Glass Rectangular Picture Frame
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Troy, MI
Standing picture frame by Barovier & Toso has a thick band of pale apricot ridged glass with brass hardware, circa 1940s. Signed by manufacturer on stand. Depth shown is with stand e...
Category

Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

Signed Barovier and Toso Clear Ribbed Glass Standing Frame
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Troy, MI
Tabletop picture frame is signed by Barovier and Toso with heavy clear ribbed glass and brass trim on the inner edge and crown, circa 1940s.
Category

Early 20th Century Italian Art Deco Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Brass

1950-1970 Crystal Murano Vase Barovier e Toso, Signed
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Paris, FR
Vase of Murano with bubbles and inclusions of gold, red, good condition, circa 1950-1970.
Category

1960s Italian Art Deco Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Crystal

Pair of Barovier & Toso Hexagonal Cased Glass Tall Vases
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This is a well matched pair of six sided handblown vases with opalescent cased exteriors. They range in color depending on the light from a luminescent cranberry to a deep orangey pi...
Category

1940s Italian Art Deco Vintage Barovier & Toso Serveware, Ceramics, Silver and Glass

Materials

Crystal

Barovier&toso serveware, ceramics, silver and glass for sale on 1stDibs.

Barovier&Toso serveware, ceramics, silver and glass are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of glass and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Barovier&Toso serveware, ceramics, silver and glass, although gold editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Barovier&Toso were created in the mid-century modern style in italy during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider serveware, ceramics, silver and glass by Archimede Seguso, Flavio Poli, and Ercole Barovier. Prices for Barovier&Toso serveware, ceramics, silver and glass can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $175 and can go as high as $17,000, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,449.

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