The Barovier dynasty began in 1295, when Jacobello Barovier, mentioned in historical documents as a master glassblower, began pinching, cutting, blowing and twisting a molten mixture of sand and minerals into incandescent works of art.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 Fenicia Bowl, 1900
By Barovier
Located in Saint-Amans-des-Cots, FR
Fenicia bowl by Barovier, Murano, ca.1900. Blown double glass. Yellow, blue, green and white glass. 2 hot-applied handles. Measures: height: 1.6"(4cm), width: 3.5"(9cm), depth : 2.7"...
Art Glass
Mid-Century Modern Barovier Table Lamps, Murano Glass, Pink Swirl
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Mid Century/Art Deco Murano glass lamps in a pale pink featuring a swirl blown pattern and silver dust inclusions. Glass lamps sit on polished nickel bases. Rewired for use i...
Brass
Mid-Century Modern Barovier Table Lamps, Murano Glass, Italy, 1950s
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Italian midcentury handblown Murano glass lamps in a seldom seen marble or striated technique using ox blood and white glass with a matte finish, sitting on brushed brass bases. Rewi...
Brass
Barovier Mid-Century Modern Vide Poche, Blown Glass, Italy, 1950s
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Chic white murano glass vessel with gold fleck inclusion interior. Great as a desk accessory or soap dish.
Blown Glass
Large Gold Murano Glass Lamp by Barovier
By Barovier&Toso, Seguso, Venini, Barovier, Salviati
Located in Houston, TX
Large gold Murano glass lamp by Barovier. Large and heavy gold Murano lamp by Barovier with infused gold on lucite base. This Italian Hollywood Regency lamp...
Lucite, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Mid-century Ribbed Barovier Bullicante Green & Gold Murano Art Glass Vase
By Barovier
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Mid-Century Murano art glass vase. By Barovier & Toso. In a ribbed Bullicante trumpet form in green glass with captured bubbles and gold f...
Art Glass, Murano 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
$765Sale Price|20% Off
Italian Design Murano Glass and Orange Metal Table Lamp by Barovier, 1950s
By Barovier
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful and rare Italian design small table lamp by Barovier 1950s with 1 internal light. Made of Murano glass with orange metal. Used good conditions, some signs of wear in the me...
Metal
Murano Glass Tripod Floor Lamp By Barovier
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier
Located in Houston, TX
Murano Glass Tripod Floor Lamp By Barovier. Offered is a stunning rare gold infused Murano glass floor lamp with a tripod base and bronze fittin...
Bronze
$10,000
Large Barovier Vase
By Barovier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
An enormous vessel in the Aboriginal technique.
Glass
Vintage Pair of Murano Glass Bubble Vases with Sommerso Gold, 1960s Barovier
By Barovier
Located in Villaverla, IT
Vintage pair of Murano glass bubble vases with "sommerso" gold, 1960s Barovier. This beautiful pair of vases is an outstanding example of the best Murano glass tradition. The detail...
Gold
Barovier Applique “Rugiada”Brass Murano Glass, 1940, Italy
By Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
Barovier applique “Rugiada” brass murano glass, 1940, Italy.
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
Mid-Century Murano Glass Table Lamps by Barovier, Italy, 1950s
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Pair of Mid-Century Murano glass lamps in a brilliant Tiffany Blue with gold dust coin dot pattern inclusions. Lamps have clear glass leaves with gold dust ap...
Gold Leaf
Large Barovier Murano Rostrato Glass and Brass Table Lamp, Italy, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful large table lamp in "rostrato" mouth-blown Murano glass and brass, completed by an ivory cotton lampshade. This incredibly charming table lamp was designed by Ercole Barovi...
Brass
Barovier Murano Ribbed Glass & Brass Table Lamp with Pink Lampshade, Italy 1950s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful table lamp in Murano blown glass and brass, completed by a light pink cotton lampshade. This elegant lamp was produced by Barovier in Italy during the 1950s. In amazing co...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Barovier Semi Flush Mount, Italy 1950
By Barovier
Located in Bronx, NY
Barovier glass chandelier, 1950 Italy. Patinated metal frame holding 30 pieces of thick press glass, 20 original European Edison sockets that...
Metal
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
Italian Chandelier with Murano Glass Cornucopias by Barovier, circa 1960
By Barovier
Located in Saint-Ouen, FR
Italian chandelier Cornucopias by Barovier circa 1960, Murano glass and brass, in excellent condition.
Brass
Pair of Vintage Cranberry Color Murano Glass Lamps by Barovier
By Barovier, Seguso
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
Barovier Crepuscolo Bowl/Tray
By Barovier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
The Crepuscolo technique was used by Barovier in 1936 It is internally decorated with metal inclusions. The term Crepuscolo translates to "Twilight".
Glass
Elegant Barovier Hand Blown Glass Pendant Lantern, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing Barovier hand blown glass pendant lantern with a precious "pulegoso" cup 1940s. Three E 14 light bulbs.
Blown Glass
Rare Murano Glass Table Lamp by Barovier
By Barovier
Located in Chicago, IL
Barovier glass Table lamp in the form of a lantern design. Hollywood Regency, Modern in Design.
Art Glass
$583Sale 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
$2,646 / set
Barovier Art Decó Applique
By Barovier
Located in Cerignola, IT
Beautiful decó wall sconces by Barovier in Murano glass with 'bullicante' effect workmanship and polished brass frame. New electrics
Brass
$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
$5,263Sale Price|20% Off
Umberto Bellotto Vase, Murano Glass, Cobalt Blue Accents, Italy, 1927
By Pauly & Co., Umberto Bellotto, Barovier
Located in Zurich, CH
Umberto Bellotto. Vase 1927 Produced by Barovier & Toso. Clear glass, with applications in cobalt blue tinted glass. Bottom marked:. Pauly & C. (manufacturer's label). H. 25 cm. Exce...
Murano Glass
Vintage 1940's Barovier Bubbled Murano Glass Table Lamp
By Barovier
Located in North Miami, FL
This is a wonderful clear Murano masterpiece by Barovier - bubbled inclusions and scale like design. Must have been updated at some point with a Lu...
Murano Glass, Acrylic