Ercole Barovier left an indelible mark on the world of Italian modernist glassmaking — his vibrant use of color and exploration of innovative techniques yielded glass vases, chandeliers and other lighting and decorative objects that stand out in any interior many decades later.
Barovier grew up on the Venetian island of Murano, a region of the world famed for its production of artisanal glassworks. By the time he was born, in 1889, his family had already been in the glassmaking business for centuries, as the Barovier dynasty began in 1295. Nonetheless, Barovier did not choose glassmaking as his first career — he instead studied medicine as a young man before going on to work as a radio operator in the first World War.
The year after the war ended, Barovier joined his family’s business (over time, the manufactory’s names have included Fratelli Barovier, Vetreria Artistica Barovier & C. and Artisti Barovier). He was appointed artistic director in 1926, and subsequently managed the business with his brother Nicolò. From 1927 onward, Barovier was the chief designer at his family’s glassworks. He became sole proprietor in 1934, and in 1936, merged his own family business with the Venetian glass factory SAIAR Ferro Toso. They renamed the company Barovier & Toso, a name under which the company still operates today.
Early in his career, Barovier garnered praise for his work with murrine glass, one of the traditional arts for which Murano is widely known. In the 1930s, he began pushing the boundaries of tradition and experimenting with new ways to bring color into his glass objects.
Ercole Barovier is credited with having invented colorazione a caldo senza fusione, a method of introducing metals and oxides into glassworks. His style became defined by his use of riotous color and later, audacious forms. He created sculptures, table lamps and other pieces using mosaic techniques to add a kaleidoscope of striking hues to his work. Barovier had a particular gift to bring out glass’s unique properties to refract and filter light in every shade of the rainbow.
Barovier took endless inspiration from the world around him, from the play of light reflecting off the canals near his home to artworks from classical antiquity. Prior to World War II, his works included naturalistic designs including floral sconces, vine-wrapped chandeliers and sea life-inspired bowls (the manufactory was known for sinuous lighting pieces that are often described as embodying “Liberty Style” — the Italian term for Art Nouveau).
Barovier focused on reinterpreting classical techniques and styles in the postwar years. Geometrically patterned vases that recalled Ancient Greek pottery in their bold forms — as well as precisely detailed Art Deco glass serving bowls — are among his characteristic works from this period. Gold leaf was applied as a decorative flourish, and Barovier worked to ensure that his pieces reflected contemporary trends. His mid-century glass is particularly sought after by today’s collectors.
Up until his retirement in 1972, Barovier continued his exploration of the creative potential in glassmaking. His fearlessness in combining cutting-edge techniques with deeply traditional practices led him to create over 25,000 designs over the course of his life.
Barovier’s work garnered international acclaim. He received many awards and accolades, including awards at the Milan Triennial exhibitions in 1933 and 1954, the Paris Universal Exhibition in 1937, and the Compasso d'Oro in 1956.
On 1stDibs, find vintage Ercole Barovier lighting, decorative objects and serveware.
1930s by Ercole Barovier Gold Glass Murano Animal Elephant
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Brescia, IT
Elephant by Ercole Barovier, 1930s. Gold Murano glass Perfect condition.
Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier Large Rostrato Murano Glass Italian Vase, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous large mouth-blown rostrato crystal Murano glass vase. This spectacular decorative piece was produced in Italy during the 1940s by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso. In m...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier Rostrato Murano Glass Italian Vase for Barovier & Toso, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Roma, IT
Fantastic mouth-blown rostrato crystal Murano glass vase. This marvelous decorative piece was realized during the 1940s in Italy by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso. In fabulous ...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier Murano Glass Vase for Ferro Toso Barovier Italy 1930s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Milan, IT
Splendid Ercole Barovier Murano Glass Vase for Ferro Toso Barovier Italy 1930s
Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier "A Petali" Murano Glass Vase, Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Milan, IT
An exceptional and sculptural “A Petali” vase designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso, Murano, circa 1940s. This iconic model exemplifies Barovier’s refined experimentati...
Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso Aborigeni Murano Art Glass Bowl
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso Aborigeni Murano Art Glass Bowl A great Murano glass bowl in Aborigeni technique. Designed by Ercole Barovier and manufactured by Barovier & Toso...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Midcentury Set of 3 "Submerged" Murano Glass Italian Bowl, Barovier, Italy 1970
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Wonderful Mid-Century collection of three decorative bowls in "Sommerso" Murano crystal glass. This wonderful set was designed by Barovier in Italy during the 1970s. The sinuous li...
Glass, Art Glass, Murano Glass, Blown Glass
Ercole Barovier Medusa Glass Vase for Ferro Barovier Tosso, 1938
By Ercole Barovier
Located in CABA, AR
Ercole Barovier “Medusa” Vase – 1938 Iridescent Murano Glass with Gold Inclusions This exceptional vase from the celebrated Medusa series, designed in...
Art Glass
Large Barovier Coronado d'Oro Glass Centerpiece Bowl
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Large Barovier & Toso Murano handblown centerpiece bowl in the Coronado d'ore technique. Expertly crafted of thick clear glass with gold inclusions.
Glass
Ercole Barovier “Bird” Murano Glass Gold 1950 Italy
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
Ercole Barovier “Bird”.
Murano Glass
Vintage Murano Pezzato Art Glass Ashtray by Barovier & Toso 1950s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Murano Pezzato Art Glass Ashtray by Barovier & Toso 1950s A heavy Murano art glass ashtray designed by Ercole Barovier and manufactured by Barovier & Toso, Italy circa 1950s. Heavy hot moulded glass internally decorated with opaline and light green glass plates...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier Murano Glass and Gold Centerpiece for Artistica Barovier
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Very nice and elegant early Murano glass bowl, by Ercole Barovier.
Art Glass
Ercole Barovier Crepuscolo Vase for Ferro Toso Barovier, Italy, 1936
By Ferro Toso Barovier, Ercole Barovier
Located in Milan, IT
Ercole Barovier Crepuscolo vase for Ferro Toso Barovier, Italy, 1936.
Murano Glass
Pair Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso Cordonato D Oro Murano double candles
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso Cordonato D’Oro gold leaf pair of double candles. Very large and impressive pieces in a great technique. The nearly fifty year tenure of E...
Blown Glass
Ercole Barovier - Ferro Toso Barovier Bowl ca. 1936
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Ercole Barovier - Ferro Toso Barovier Bowl ca. 1936 A nice glass bowl manufactured by Ferro Toso Barovier ca. 1936, Murano Italy. Honey yellow glass with gold foil inclusion and a o...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier “Ambrati” Murano Glass Ewer for Christian Dior, Italy, 1954
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Milan, IT
Rare sculptural “Ambrati” glass ewer produced by Barovier & Toso for Christian Dior in 1954. Handblown on the island of Murano, the ewer features a rounded, generously proportio...
Murano Glass
Vintage Pair of Transparent Bullicante Murano Glass Vases by Ercole Barovier
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Bresso, Lombardy
Made in Italy, 1930s - 1940s Made in transparent bullicante hand-blown Murano glass by Ercole Barovier. These vases are original and quite rare to find as a pair, especially in this...
Murano Glass
Murano Barovier Toso Red Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Pitcher Vase
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful vintage Murano hand blown deep red and gold flecks Italian art glass pitcher shaped flower vase. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Barovier e Toso company. Th...
Gold Leaf
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso Porpora Murano Glass Dish, Italy, 1960s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in New York, NY
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso "Porpora" Murano glass dish, Italy, 1960s. This exceptional bowl showcases Barovier's celebrated Porpora technique, distinguished by its richl...
Blown Glass
Monumental Ercole Barovier, Barovier & Toso Efeso Blue Vase, 1964
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Monumental Ercole Barovier - Barovier & Toso Efeso Blue Vase 1964 Item e6454 A large blue art glass vase from the 'Efeso' series designed by Ercole Baro...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Cup, dis. Ercole Barovier, Murano
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Venezia, IT
White "reticello" cup with blue rim. Barovier & Toso, 1970s.
Murano Glass
24 Pc Barovier Hand Blown Venetian "French Blue" Stemware Service for 12
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This beautiful handblown Venetian stemware service for 12 in "French Blue" and gold was made by Barovier. The quilted optic bowl and foot, add an extra element of design with connectors comprised of clear figural grapes with gold leaf inclusions. The tall goblets are perfect as water or wine goblets and the champagne coupes are also perfect as footed desserts coupes...
Glass
Large Murano "Bullicante" Blown Glass Fan Flower Vase by Barovier, Italy 1950s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Magnificent rostrato and "bullicante" mouth-blown crystal Murano glass vase made by Ercole Barovier in Italy during the 1950s. In spectacular condition, not missing a single spike, w...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Large Mugoni Art Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
Can be found in the book Art of the Barovier: Glassmakers in Murano 1866-1972, Barovier, pg. 137 Ercole Barovier 1889–1974 The nearly fifty year tenure of Ercole Barovier as artis...
Art Glass
1950s Ercole Barovier Zebrati Glass Murano Midcentury Design Italy Bowl Vase
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Brescia, IT
"Zebrati" Murano glass Perfect condiction Measures: H 14 x 30 cm.
Murano Glass
1930s Ercole Barovier Art Deco Italian Murano Glass Smoking Set
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Brescia, IT
Ashtray _ height 7 / diameter 15 cm Tabacco bowl _ height 7 / diameter 8.5 cm Matches bowl_ height 5.5 / diameter 6 cm.
Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier "A Stelle" Large, Rare, Murano Glass Table Lamp
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This is a rare and early Murano lamp by the well known artist Ercole Barovier. The glass alone measures approximate, 16" high and 9" diameter. The silver plate base and top shows pat...
Glass, Blown Glass
Pezzato Art Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Hamilton, Ontario
This Pezzato art glass vase is done with alternating glass tesserae of white and smokey grey colors Can be found in the book The Venetians: Modern Glass 1919-1990, Muriel Karasik Ga...
Art Glass
$3,652Sale Price|20% Off
Rare Crepuscolo Vase Ercole Barovier 1930 Murano Art Glass
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Palermo, Sicily
Rare Crepuscolo vase Ercole Barovier 1930 Murano art glass. Among the most interesting techniques developed by Ercole Barovier in the 1930s there is "tw...
Murano Glass
Barovier Toso Murano Label Red Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Pitcher Vase
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Kissimmee, FL
Beautiful, and rare shape, vintage Murano hand blown red trim and pink pigments Italian art glass pitcher or vase with gold flecks. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier, for the Ba...
Gold Leaf
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso Attr. Glass Basket circa 1940s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso Attr. Glass Basket circa 1940s A great Murano market basket attributed to Barovier & Toso ca. 1940s. Thick fused clear glass with gold foil inclu...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
Ercole Barovier, Barovier & Toso Efeso Vase ca. 1960s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Ercole Barovier - Barovier & Toso Efeso vase ca. 1960s A great blue vase from the 'efeso' series designed by Ercole Barovier in 1964 for Barovier & Toso, M...
Art Glass, Murano Glass
$1,760Sale Price|20% Off
Barovier Toso Italian Vintage Art Glass Rostrato Murano Vase / Bowl, circa 1938
By Ercole Barovier, Ferro Toso Barovier
Located in Buenos Aires, Olivos
Barovier Toso Italian vintage art glass Rostrato Murano vase / bowl, circa 1938 An exquisite mid-20th century centrepiece by Barovier & Toso in b...
Murano Glass
1930s Murano Centerpiece by Ercole Barovier
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Kilmarnock, VA
A remarkable hand-blown glass bowl from the 1930s by the celebrated Murano maestro Ercole Barovier, created for Artistica Barovier. The organic shape of the bowl evokes stylized agav...
Blown Glass
Two Ercole Barovier 'Cordonato d' Oro'/ Zebrati Candy Bowls
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Sharon, CT
Pair of mid century Barovier candy bowls, one a leaf form ( 7.75"diameter x 4.25" high) the other a star form (8"diameter x 3.50). Designed and executed by Barovier in Zebrati and Co...
Blown Glass
Murano glass shell with large ribs, Barovier&Toso, Italy
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Shell-shaped sculpture, characterized by large ribs, made of heavy iridescent Murano glass. The body, shaped like a fan with very pronounced lobes, design by Ercole Barovier for Baro...
Murano Glass
Vintage Barovier & Toso 'Sidone' Table Lamp, Murano circa 1960s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Berghuelen, DE
Vintage Barovier & Toso 'Sidone' Table Lamp, Murano circa 1960s A rare table lamp of the Sidone series designed by Ercole Barovier in 1957 and manufactured by Barovier & Toso, Muran...
Art Glass, Murano Glass, Murrine
Murano glass shell with large ribs, Barovier&Toso, Italy
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Milano, Lombardia
Shell-shaped sculpture, characterized by large ribs, made of heavy iridescent Murano glass. The body, shaped like a fan with very pronounced lobes, design by Ercole Barovier for Baro...
Murano Glass
Barovier Hand Blown "Bullicante" Vase w/ Gold Leaf Inclusions Controlled Bubbles
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Great Barrington, MA
This is a rare example of a hand blown Barovier and Toso "Bullicante" crystal vase with allover controlled bubbles. The shape is Classic but unusual and it features 2 round applied "...
Blown Glass
Center piece in Murano glass by Ercole Barovier 1950 "cordonato oro"
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Rio De Janeiro, RJ
Incredible center piece in Murano glass by Ercole Barovier circa 1950.
Murano Glass