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.
Murano Glass Table Lamp, Turquoise Gold Cordonato d’Oro, Barovier & Toso, 1960s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in Glasgow, GB
This Murano glass table lamp by Barovier & Toso, designed by Ercole Barovier and produced in Italy in the 1960s, exemplifies the refined use of the cordonato d’oro technique within a...
Gold Leaf
$1,289Sale Price|20% Off
Ercole Barovier 40s Table Lamp
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Palermo, IT
Barovier Ercole lamp one light e14 Lamp with bulb glass reflecting the work of the master glassmaker in the 1940s with original switch of the period. Ready to be placed in your envir...
Murano Glass
Adjustable Bell Table Lamp in Murano Glass and Brass by Barovier, Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning adjustable table lamp in mouth-blown Murano glass and brass. This incredibly stylish and unique lamp in the shape of a bell flower was designed by Ercole Barovier and produc...
Brass
Barovier Pair of Bell Table Lamps in Murano Glass and Brass, Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous and unique pair of bellflower Murano table lamps in mouth-blown crystal glass and brass. These incredibly elegant lamps were designed by Ercole Barovier and made in Italy d...
Brass
Mid-Century pair of Ercole Barovier Murano glass and brass table lamps. 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Catania, CT
Set of two small table lamps designed by Ercole Barovier during the 40s. Good vintage condition with normal trace of age and use but a crack on a brass socket as shown in pictures. G...
Brass
$946Sale Price|20% Off
Two Murano glass and brass table lamps by Ercole Barovier Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Palermo, IT
Gorgeous pair of curved brass bell-shaped table lamps made of Murano glass, mouth-blown crystal, and brass. These incredibly elegant lamps were designed by Ercole Barovier and made i...
Brass
Murano Table Lamps by Ercole Barovier, Giltwood & Glass, Italy, 1950s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Palm Springs, CA
Pair of smaller scale hand blown cream and gold inclusions Murano table lamps by Ercole Barovier Toso. Mounted on giltwood bases. Newly wired with new brass 3 way sockets and cord. G...
Brass
Bellflower Table Lamp in Murano Glass and Brass by Ercole Barovier, Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous table lamp made in a combination Murano glass and brass. This incredibly elegant lamp was designed by Ercole Barovier and made in Italy during the early '40s. The shade o...
Brass
Mid-Century Tea Morosati Table Light by Stilnovo and Barovier & Toso, Italy
By Tea Morosati, Stilnovo, Ercole Barovier
Located in Steinheim am Albuch, BW
Magnificent and rare italian table light designed by Tea Morosati, produced by Stilnovo. The handblown glass is by the renewed glassmaker Barovier & Toso. This stunning and large ta...
Brass
Ercole Barovier Table Lamp Murano Glass Brass Parchment Lampshade 1940 Italy
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
Only glass height 50cm diameter 15cm.
Murano Glass
Barovier Bellflower Adjustabe Table Lamp in Murano Glass and Brass, Italy, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous and unique adjustable table lamp crafted in a stunning combination of Murano mouth-blown glass and brass. This delightful lamp was designed by Ercole Barovier and produced i...
Brass
BAROVIER & TOSO - Pair of Murano glass abat-jours 1930s - Made in ITALY
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Milano, IT
BAROVIER &TOSO - Pair of table abat-jours, made in the 1930s by the Murano glassworks BAROVIER&TOSO, designed by ERCOLE BAROVIER, are made of murano glass in perfect condition and in...
Murano Glass
Murano Table Lamp by Ercole Barovier for Barovier E Toso, circa 1940
By Ercole Barovier
Located in London, GB
A sculptural table lamp in Murano glass and gold leaf by Ercole Barovier, 1940s. Ercole Barovier began his personal aesthetic transition toward modernism in the 1930s with his Pri...
Murano Glass
Graffito Barbarico Design Lamp by Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso Murano lamp in Graffito Barbarico design. Internally decorated glass with gold inclusions. Large example in a very desirable technique. Lamp sha...
Blown Glass
Barovier 'Eugenio' Murano Vetri Table Lamp
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Sharon, CT
Important iridized Murano midcentury table lamp by Ercole Barovier, Barovier & Toso. Measures: height 16", width 8". diameter of base 6 5...
Glass
Rare Ercole Barovier Efeso Table Lamp 1964
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Munich, DE
Huge version of Ercole Barovier Efeso table lamp manufactured by Barovier & Toso in the 1940s in Italy. Round glass base with a blue pattern and knob-sh...
Brass
Ercole Barovier Efeso Green Table Lamp
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
Located in Munich, DE
Efeso bottle shape table lamp executed by Barovier & Toso, Italy 1964. Clear glass, dark green blue flaky powder inclusions with bubbles, permeated with oxide inclusions, clear over...
Brass
Medusa Table Lamp by Ercole Barovier for Barovier Toso 1935 Murano
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier&Toso
Located in London, GB
Medusa table lamp by Ercole Barovier (1889-1974) circa 1935 for Barovier Toso and Co. Venetian crystal blown glass with iridescent surface designed like a torch of fire. Barovier made his mark on the company, the glass-works industry and history. The lamp executed by Barovier and Toso shows the technical complexity of a company founded in 1295. Barovier and Toso have held the realm of its glass works for 750 years in Italy as Vetreria Artistica Barovier...
Glass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
Vintage Barovier & Toso 'Sidone' Table Lamp, Murano circa 1960s
By Barovier&Toso, Ercole Barovier
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
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
$927
H 8.27 in W 6.5 in D 7.88 in
Bellflower Table Lamp in Murano Glass and Brass by Ercole Barovier, Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous table lamp made in a combination Murano glass and brass. This incredibly elegant lamp was designed by Ercole Barovier and made in Italy during the early '40s. The shade o...
Brass
Italian Designer, Table Lamps, Murano Glass, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A pair of brass and murano glass table lamps designed and produced in Italy, c. 1940s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 5.75” H x 4.5” Diameter Dimensions of Shade (inches): 3.25” Top ...
Brass
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
Murano, Table Lamp, Glass, Brass, Italy, 1940s
Located in High Point, NC
A green and orange-coloured blown glass and brass table lamp designed and produced in Murano, Italy, c. 1940s. Dimensions of Lamp (inches): 13” H x 5.25” W x 3.75 D Dimensions of Sh...
Brass
Murano glass wall lamp by Ercole Barovier, Italy, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Argelato, BO
Rare Murano glass wall lamps by Ercole Barovier, Italy, 1940s These lamp, designed by the renowned Italian glass master Ercole Barovier, is made of thick blown glass; when held aga...
Brass
$1,612 / set
H 9.85 in Dm 10.04 in
Large Pair of Barovier Murano Rostrato Glass Table Lamps, Italy 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning pair of table lamps in Murano “Rostrato” crystal glass. These incredibly charming and rare table lamps were designed by Barovier and produced in Murano, Italy, during the 19...
Brass
Mid-Century Murano Glass and Brass Table Lamp, Barovier, Italy, 1940s
By Carlo Scarpa, Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning table lamp in Murano mouth blown crystal glass and brass. This romantic table lamp was made in the early 40s in Italy by Barovier and its design is attributed to the mastery...
Brass
Barovier Murano Glass and Brass "Bell" Table Lamp, Italy, 1940s
By Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Spectacular table lamp in Murano blown glass and brass. This romantic table lamp was produced by Barovier in the early 1940s in Italy. This finely crafted lamp recalls the the shape...
Brass
Murano Glass Lamp by Barovier & Toso
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Winter Park, FL
A Mid Century Murano glass lamp by Barovier & Toso. Clear hand-blown glass with real gold leaf inclusions using cordonato d'oro (ropes of gold) technique. Nice proportions with elega...
Brass
$1,507
H 11.03 in Dm 6.3 in
Barovier Large Triple Murano Rostrato Glass and Brass Table Lamp, Italy, 1940s
By (After) Gio Ponti, Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous and unique large table lamp fully made of Murano mouth-blown “rostrato” glass and brass. This incredibly charming table lamp was designed by Ercole Barovier and produced in...
Brass
Barovier & Toso Murano Art Glass Table Lamp
By Barovier&Toso
Located in Astoria, NY
Barovier and Toso Murano Art Glass Table Lamp, the gold-flecked fluted vasiform base with brass mountings, with pleated linen shade. Overall: 38" H x 18" Diameter. Provenance: From a...
Brass
$3,247Sale Price / set|30% Off
H 20.87 in Dm 11.03 in
Pair of Contemporary Murano Glass and Brass Table Lamps
Located in Puglia, Puglia
Pair of brass cage lamps with imposing and massive cubes in pressed blue Murano glass. The lampshade is in white "Incamiciato" Murano glass. In the st...
Brass
Pair of Barovier "Bell" Murano Glass and Brass Table Lamps, Italy, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier, Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous and unique pair of table lamps in Murano mouth-blown crystal glass and solid brass. These romantic table lamps were designed and produced by Barovier in Murano, Italy during...
Brass
Sold
H 8.27 in Dm 5.52 in
Pair of Italian Murano “Rostrato” Glass Table Lamps by Ercole Barovier, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Catania, CT
Elegant pair of Italian table lamps in Murano “Rostrato” art glass, produced in the 1940s and attributed to Ercole Barovier. These lamps feature the distinctive rostrato technique, c...
Brass
Ercole Barovier Italian Murano Mugnoni Table Lamp
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Franklin Park, IL
Ercole Barovier Italian Murano Mugnoni Table Lamp This lamp measures: 7.75 wide x 7.75 deep x 22.5 inches high Excellent Vintage Condition. We take our photos in a controlled ligh...
Metal
Barovier "Bell" Murano Glass and Brass Table Lamp, Italy, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning bell-shaped table lamp in Murano blown glass and solid brass. This romantic table lamp was crafted in the 1940s in Italy by Murano master glassmaker Ercole Barovier. In ama...
Brass
Sold
H 6.7 in W 4.73 in D 5.91 in
Adjustable Bell Table Lamp in Murano Glass and Brass by Barovier, Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Marvelous and unique adjustable table lamp in mouth-blown Murano glass and brass. This delightful lamp in the shape of a bell flower was designed by Ercole Barovier in Italy during t...
Brass
Ercole Barovier, Murano pair of Table Lamps circa 1940
By Ercole Barovier
Located in CA, CA
Pair of table lamps by Ercole Barovier, Murano circa 1940 in rostrate colourless glass, metal frame with oval diffuser and truncated cone base.
Cut Glass
Barovier Tall Glass Table Lamp, Venice 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in London, GB
A rare ‘Lenti’ table lamp made by Ercole Barovier for Barovier and Toso, Venice 1940s Total height including shade 97cm x Diameter 43cm. Original manufacturers paper label fixed to ...
Glass
Sold
H 7.49 in W 5.71 in D 4.34 in
Pair of Murano Glass and Brass Bell Table Lamps by Barovier, Italy, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous bell shaped table lamps in Murano glass and solid brass. This romantic table lamps were made in the '40s in Italy by the Murano glass master Ercole Barovier. This incredib...
Brass
Rare Pair of Ercole Barovier Rostrato table lamps. Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Catania, CT
This rare pair of table lamps, crafted by Ercole Barovier in Italy during the 1940s, showcases the renowned “Rostrato” technique, a hallmark of Murano glass artistry. The surface of ...
Brass
Sold
H 7.88 in W 4.73 in D 5.91 in
Pair of Bell Table Lamps in Murano Glass and Brass by Barovier, Italy 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Stunning pair of bellflower Murano table lamps in mouth-blown crystal glass and brass. These incredibly elegant lamps were designed by Ercole Barovier and made in Italy during the ea...
Brass
Sold
H 7.49 in W 5.71 in D 4.53 in
Pair of Murano Glass and Brass Bell Table Lamps by Barovier, Italy, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Roma, IT
Gorgeous bell shaped table lamps in Murano glass and solid brass. This romantic table lamps were made in the '40s in Italy by the Murano glass master Ercole Barovier. This incredib...
Brass
Murano Glass and Brass Bell Table Lamp by Barovier, Italy, 1940s
By Ercole Barovier
Located in Benalmadena, ES
A 1940s bell-shaped table lamp by the master glassmakers Barovier & Toso, crafted in brass and Murano glass, perfect for your bedside table. Made by the renowned artisans Barovier & ...
Brass