The Barovier dynasty began in 1295, when Jacobello Barovier, mentioned in historical documents as a master glassblower, began pinching, cutting, blowing and twisting a molten mixture of sand and minerals into incandescent works of art.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.
$315 / item
Italian Rostratto Barovier Bud Vase
By Barovier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Rostratto glass bud vase by Barovier from Italy, 1940s. Petite hand blown glass bud vase with intricate spikey detail and fluted rim. Original glass shows nice age, patina, a...
Blown Glass
Art Deco Iridescent Shell Bowl by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso, Italy 30s
By Barovier, Ercole Barovier
Located in Lucija, SI
Elegant shell bowl designed and made by Ercole Barovier of the 1930s. The bowl is made with iridescent technique, in fact the whole object is made of iridescent murano glass in the s...
Murano Glass
Set of 3 Murano Vanity Decorative Blown Glass with Gold by Barovier, Italy 1950s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning decorative vanity set of 3 Murano blown glass with 24k gold. This incredibly stylish and rare set was made by Barovier in Italy during the 1950s. In fabulous conditions, wi...
Gold Leaf
Barovier vase in Murano glass with gold dust 1960 Italy
By Barovier
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Murano Glass Vase with Gold Dust by Barovier 1960 Italy
Murano Glass
Pop Art Photo Holder In Murano Glass By Barovier 1970s
By Barovier
Located in Palermo, IT
Pop art photo holder in Murano glass by Barovier 1970s Intact and in good condition, internal measurement for photography 18 cm x 24 cm. External measurements 25cm x 31cm.
Murano Glass
Mint Condition Murano Barovier Black & Green Mount Blown Glass Art Vase
By Barovier
Located in Lisse, NL
Beautiful mouth blown art glass vase from the midcentury era. If you are looking for unique and truly decorative works of art to grace your living space then this midcentury era, Italian vase could be the perfect addition to your collection. This entirely handcrafted and mouth blown work of beauty by Barovier has the most amazing organic design and coloring and it will always draw people's attention. This combination of black, green and transparent glass is unlike anything we ever saw and it looks like something organical that you would find on a seabed or on a tropical island somewhere. Also because of its good size this Italian workmanship gem will never fail to impress. If you can already see it on your side...
Blown Glass, Glass, Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier Exceptional Pulegoso Glass Vase with Applied Discs, 1930s
By Barovier, Ercole 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
1970s Barovier & Toso Signed Pink & White Murano Glass Vase and Bowl
By Barovier
Located in Florence, Tuscany
This 1970s Barovier & Toso Murano glass set pairs a signed vase with a matching bowl, both worked in delicate pink and white canne. The finely applied filigree lines create a sof...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Barovier Toso Murano Art Glass Vase Cordonato d'Oro Ropes of Gold Emerald Green
By Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Palm Beach, FL
Rare and spectacular Barovier Toso Murano art glass vase designed in the Cordonato d'Oro - Ropes of Gold technique. Hand made on the Venetian island of Murano in Italy. This exquisit...
Gold, Gold Leaf
$2,240Sale Price|20% Off
Murano Barovier & Toso Glass Box, Gold, Brass, Hinged.
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Murano Barovier & Toso Glass Box, Gold, Brass, Hinged. Finely handcrafted rectangular translucent glass box, decorated with gold bubble inclusions.
Brass
Rare Orange Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier model "Rotellati", Italy
By Barovier, Ercole Barovier
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1970s. This is an extremely rare vase, designed by Ercole barovier for Barovier's company in Murano. It is made in hand-blown glass, with a tile composition that req...
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
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
Murano Glass Bowl by Barovier & Toso, Pink & White Stripes, 1970
By Barovier
Located in Florence, Tuscany
A gentle pink and white spiral bowl hand-blown in Murano in the 1970s by Barovier & Toso. In good condition, a beautiful collectors piece.
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage Barovier & Toso Cordonato D'oro Murano Art Glass Vase c. 1950's
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Exceptional Mid Century art glass vase made in Murano, Italy, by Ercole Barovier, for Barovier & Toso, c 1950's, as part of the iconic Cordonato D'Oro series. This stunning vase feat...
Art Glass
Large Murano Bird by Barovier
By Barovier
Located in New York, NY
Spectacular bird in flight sculpture made in Murano, Italy by Barovier. This impressive glass sculpture is in perfect condition, free of damage, or repairs. the organic clear glass p...
Art Glass
Italian Rostratto Barovier Bud Vase with Top
By Barovier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Vintage Rostratto glass bud vase by Barovier from Italy, 1940s. Petite hand blown glass bud vase with intricate spikey detail and glass top. Original glass shows nice age, patina, an...
Blown Glass
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
Murano Glass Big Vase by Ercole Barovier for Ferro Toso Barovier, Italy 1937
By Barovier&Toso, Barovier, Vetreria Artistica Barovier & C., Ferro Toso Barovier
Located in Rome, IT
Amazing truncated conical big vase with applications in thick coulourless murano glass by the maestro of Murano Glass, Ercole Barovier. 1937 production: Ferro - Toso - Barovier. C...
Murano Glass
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
Barovier Fenicia Bowl, Murano Art Glass, Circa 1900, Colorful Design
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
$1,897Sale Price|20% Off
Barovier vase in bulging Murano glass from 1940
By Barovier
Located in Palermo, IT
Striking cobalt blue Murano glass bullicant showcases a sophisticated bell shape, embellished with elegant scrolling handles in contrasting clear Murano glass. This luxurious combina...
Murano Glass, Stained Glass
Bowl Murano Barovier Zebrato 1950s Mid-Century Modern Italian Design Gold Powder
By Barovier
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Bowl Murano Barovier Zebrato 1950s Mid-Century Modern Italian design gold powder.
Murano Glass
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
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 Barbarico Vase
By Barovier
Located in West Palm Beach, FL
A fine double neck form. Slight irradiance. period paper label.
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
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
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