The Barovier dynasty began in 1295, when Jacobello Barovier, mentioned in historical documents as a master glassblower, began pinching, cutting, blowing and twisting a molten mixture of sand and minerals into incandescent works of art.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.
A Large Vintage Murano Glass Pink Oval Bowl by Barovier & Toso
By Barovier
Located in Chicago, IL
A Large Murano Glass oval bowl with ruffled edge by Barovier & Toso. Beautiful Pink Color with Gold overlay.
Murano Glass
Gold Murano Glass Shark Sculpture by Barovier, Italy, 1950s
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Mid Century gold Murano glass shark on clear glass stylized rock base. Barovier, Italy.
Murano Glass
Barovier and Toso Barbarico Vase
By Barovier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine double neck form. Slight irradiance. period paper label.
Glass
$555Sale Price|24% Off
Vintage Table Lamp in White Glass by Barovier, Italy
By Barovier
Located in Albano Laziale, Rome/Lazio
White glass Barovier table lamp with rice grain pattern standing on a round metal base. There is also a light source inside the glass base. Delivered with brand new lamp shade in bl...
Murano Glass
Wall Bowl by Barovier, San Polo, Venice / Italy, Mid-20th Century
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Wall-mounted bowl sconce in blue glass with characteristic air bubble inclusions and a ribbed brass mount. The wall attachment is formed by an irregular glazed terracotta element in ...
Brass
A 1950s Barovier Bullicante Clear Murano Glass Oval Bowl
By Barovier
Located in Aci Castello, IT
A bullicante murano glass bowl manufactured in Venice in the Fifties by Barovier, the oval bowl has two fruits on the sides. This Bowl is a fine example of the exquisite craftsmanshi...
Murano Glass
$6,800 / set
Translucent Sky Blue Murano Glass Lamps
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Pair of translucent sky blue Murano glass lamps with a slight all over quilted diamond pattern and a applied glass edge. Lamps sit on matte nickel bases and have been rewired for use...
Nickel
Oversized Raspberry Murano Glass Lamps W/ Silver Foil Inclusions by Barovier
By Barovier
Located in North Miami, FL
These are an elegant pair of raspberry hue Murano glass lamps with silver foil inclusions throughout. Beautiful swirled base and body - illuminated or not, they make a stunning state...
Murano Glass
Barovier & Toso Murano Glass "Neolitico Fish" Sculpture/Paperweight
By Barovier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Rare Neolitico, Murano glass sculpture /paperweight in this Fish shape by Barovier & Toso, label.
Murano Glass
Barovier and Toso Bulicante Table Lamp
By Barovier
Located in Miami, FL
A mid century Murano glass lamp by Barovier. Solid glass body with cinched design and silver plated hardware. Telescopic finial to 29”.
Art Glass
Barovier Applique “Rugiada”Brass Murano Glass, 1940, Italy
By Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
Barovier applique “Rugiada” brass murano glass, 1940, Italy.
Murano Glass
Midcentury Barovier Table Lamp
By Barovier
Located in Kent, Dover
A fine Mid-Century table lamp by Barovier, with hand blown graduated sections. Sold with shade.
Brass
Vintage Murano Barovier Graffito Glass Charger Bowl & 22K Gold
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
This is a rare large Murano glass charger bowl (or decorative plate) from the Barovier & Toso glassworks, dating to the Mid-Century period (li...
Glass
Pair of Delicious Barovier Murano Glass Table Lights, 1940
By Barovier
Located in Rome, IT
Pair of amazing small ivory colored Murano glass table lamps with turquoise "pasta vitrea "base by Barovier, 1940s. Nice light blue shade in very good condition. Each with one E14 ...
Blown Glass
Spectacular Murano Glass Iridescent Rostrato Large Table Lamp
By Barovier
Located in Rome, IT
Spectacular Table lamp by Barovier. Consists of two cups massive "rostrato" Murano glass . Excellent Decoration for your home as a table light or a vase.
Glass
Barovier and Toso Eugeno Vase
By Barovier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The Eugeneo line was introduced in 1951. The appearance was created by the coloring of the glass with an unmelted technique.
Art Glass
Pair of Vintage Cranberry Color Murano Glass Lamps by Barovier
By Seguso, Barovier
Located in Chicago, IL
Beautiful Pair of Vintage Murano Glass Lamps attributed to Barovier. 31.25" height to top of finial. Glass alone is 12.75" height. Diameter 6.5" Presently mounted to the turned wo...
Art Glass
$495Sale Price|41% Off
Murano Controlled Bubble Glass Bowl / Ashtray by Barovier & Toso
By Barovier
Located in Chicago, IL
Murano Controlled Bubble Glass Bowl / Ashtray by Barovier & Toso. White Lattimo Glass rim.
Art Glass
Ercole Barovier Exceptional Pulegoso Glass Vase with Applied Discs, 1930s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier
Located in Brescia, Brescia
An extraordinarily rare example of Ercole Barovier’s early 1930s experimentation with the pulegoso technique, this sculptural vase represents one of the most sought-after chapters in...
Art Glass, Murano Glass