The Barovier dynasty began in 1295, when Jacobello Barovier, mentioned in historical documents as a master glassblower, began pinching, cutting, blowing and twisting a molten mixture of sand and minerals into incandescent works of art.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.
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, "Bullicante" Model, Gold Powder and Air Bubbles, 1940, Murano, Art Deco
By Barovier
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Barovier Murano glass vase, "Bullicante" model, circa 1940, with gold dust inside and air bubbles.
Murano Glass
Pair of Large Black Murano Vases by Barovier e Toso, Italy, 1970s
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Pair of large black Murano vases by Barovier e Toso. Italy, 1970s. Both are signed and have the original labels on them. Hard to find as a pair. We ...
Murano Glass
A.V.E.M. Large Hand Blown Glass with Red and Yellow Murrhines, 1950s
By Murano 5
Located in Fort Lauderdale, FL
Large hand blown vase in Pulegoso glass with yellow and red murrhines by Arte Vetraria Muranese (A.V.E.M.), Murano Italy, 1950s.
Murano Glass
Art Decò Large Size Murano Bullicante Vase by Barovier & Toso, 1930s
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Murano vase made by the Barovier and Toso glassworks in the 1930s-40s. A unique touch of class to decorate any space. The vase was made using the bubble technique. The vase...
Murano Glass
Modern Italian Murano Barovier Toso Art Glass Vase
By Barovier&Toso
Located in New York, NY
This beautiful attributed to Barovier e Toso, small and substantial Modern Italian Murano art glass vase with a controlled bubble design and a pink 'Ombre' coloring with shimmering g...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass
1950s Italian Murano Green Heavy Art Glass Pinched Relief Wall Vase
By Barovier&Toso
Located in St. Louis, MO
A striking Mid-Century Modern Italian Murano hand-blown heavy art glass vase featuring dramatic, hot-pinched organic relief work. Sculpted while the glass was molten, the exterior wa...
Glass, Blown Glass
$2,341
H 12.6 in Dm 5.12 in
Important Murano Cobalt Blue Enamel Gilt Amphora Vase, Manner of Barovier 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Vigonza, Padua
An important and visually commanding Murano glass amphora vase, dating to the 1940s, executed in the finest tradition of Venetian enamelled and gilt glass. The piece is rendered in a...
Enamel, Gold Leaf
Barovier & Toso Bullicante Clear and Gold Foil Murano Glass Flower Vase
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A fine Italian glass flower vase. Attributed to Barovier and Toso. In the Bullicante technique. In clear glass with captured bubbles, gold foil inclusions, applied rope twist hand...
Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
$2,741Sale Price|20% Off
H 11.42 in W 7.88 in D 7.88 in
Barovier Midcentury Murano Glass and Gold Leaf Italian Vase, 1940
By Artisti Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
Vase Barovier Murano glass 1940, worked with gold leaf. Iridescent.
Murano Glass
$655Sale Price|30% Off
H 7.09 in Dm 7.09 in
Italian Murano Art Glass Transparent Vase by Barovier, Bullicante Model, 1950s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Casale Monferrato, IT
Beautiful Italian desgn mid-century murano art glass transparent vase. This model vase designed by Ercole Barovier (Murano, Italy, 1950s). A stunning little vase made with a distinc...
Art Glass
$1,250
H 11.13 in W 9.75 in D 5.25 in
Barovier & Toso Bullicante Clear and Gold Foil Murano Glass Fan Flower Vase
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Philadelphia, PA
A wonderful, large-scale Italian glass Bullicante fan shaped flower vase. Attributed to Barovier and Toso. In clear glass with captured bubbles, gold foil inclusions, and a polishe...
Murano Glass
Art Decò Pink Large Size Murano Bullicante Vase by Barovier & Toso, 1950s
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Pink Murano vase made by the Barovier and Toso glassworks in the 1930s-40s. A unique touch of class to decorate any space. The vase was made using the bubble technique. Ex...
Murano Glass
Murano Glass Barovier & Toso Gold Polveri & Bullicante Centerpiece Bowl
By Barovier&Toso
Located in SYDNEY, AU
A magnificent Italian centerpiece Bowl by Barovier & Toso in gold Polveri & Bullicante. Its transparency allows light to pass through enhancing its Lenti appearance and eleg...
Art Glass, 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
Barovier & Toso Murano Glass Bowl, Amber Green Gold, Italy, 1950s
By Barovier&Toso
Located in North Miami, FL
This stunning vintage thick walled Italian Murano hand blown glass bowl by Barovier & Toso is large. It is an early piece from the late 40's early 50's. The colors range from amber t...
Gold
$2,200
H 7.88 in Dm 5.52 in
Barovier & Toso Murano Clear and Light Blue ¨Rostrato¨ Glass Vase, Italy, 1950´s
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Barovier & Toso Murano Clear and light blue Rostrato glass vase, Italy, 1950s Vintage / mid-century / Art Deco Blue Murano art glass vase made with...
Murano Glass