Barovier & Toso Murano Glass Clam Shell Bowl
About the Item
- Creator:Barovier&Toso (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 6 in (15.24 cm)Width: 15 in (38.1 cm)Depth: 15 in (38.1 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1960s
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
- Seller Location:San Francisco, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU812522013362
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.
The Barovier dynasty began in 1295, when Jacobello Barovier, mentioned in historical documents as a master glassblower, began pinching, cutting, blowing and twisting a molten mixture of sand and minerals into incandescent works of art.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.
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. Later, with Barovier&Toso, he 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.
Find antique Barovier&Toso chandeliers, serveware, decorative objects and more on 1stDibs.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: new york, NY
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 7 days of delivery.
- Aldo Londi Ceramic Bowl for BitossiBy Aldo LondiLocated in San Francisco, CAAldo Londi design decorative ceramic centerpiece bowl for Bitossi, Italy. Fun scene depicting rooftops of Rome, Italy? Well executed and in very good original condition free of chi...Category
Vintage 1960s Mid-Century Modern Ceramics
MaterialsCeramic
- Dunbar X-Base Murano Tile-Top TableBy Dunbar FurnitureLocated in San Francisco, CARare X-base mosaic top side table designed by Edward Wormley for Dunbar Furniture Co. Both in excellent original condition, base made from solid ...Category
Vintage 1950s American Mid-Century Modern Side Tables
- Finn Juhl for Kay Bojesen Teak BowlBy Finn JuhlLocated in San Francisco, CADanish modern teak bowl designed by Finn Juhl for Kay Bojesen, Denmark. Turned from a single piece of teak wood into an organic modern shape. Polished and clean, with original patina...Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsTeak
- Henning Koppel Teak Bowl for Georg JensenBy Henning KoppelLocated in San Francisco, CAHenning Koppel staved teak bowl for Georg Jensen, Denmark. This seems to be the largest size offered at 19"in. Diameter and 4.75"in. height. In very good original condition, signed.Category
Vintage 1950s Danish Scandinavian Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsTeak
- Empoli Yellow Glass DecanterBy EmpoliLocated in San Francisco, CAEmpoli yellow glass decanter, Italy. Gorgeous and vibrant transparent lemon yellow blown glass decanter or bottle with matching stopper. Rare col...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Glass
MaterialsGlass
- Italian Opaque Glass Table Lamp JardinièreBy Angelo Vittorio MazzegaLocated in San Francisco, CAItalian opaque glass and chrome table lamp and vase by Model Depositato. Unusual combination of a table lamp and a flower vase, having a white enamel removable interior bucket with a chrome perforated...Category
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Table Lamps
MaterialsChrome
- Ercole Barovier Toso Murano Blue Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Conch Shell BowlBy Barovier&Toso, Ercole BarovierLocated in Kissimmee, FLGorgeous, monumental, vintage Murano hand blown blue with gold flecks Italian art glass seashell centerpiece sculptural bowl with pearl inside. D...Category
Vintage 1940s Italian Art Deco Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGold Leaf
- Barovier Toso Murano Iridescent Italian Art Glass Sculptural Conch Seashell BowlBy Barovier&Toso, Ercole BarovierLocated in Kissimmee, FLBeautiful, rare, vintage Murano hand blown clear iridescent Italian art glass sculptural conch shell bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for Barovier e Toso, circa 1940s. Cr...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGlass, Art Glass, Blown Glass, Murano Glass
- Barovier et Toso Murano Glass DishBy Barovier&TosoLocated in West Palm Beach, FLThis large scale, violet colored Murano glass dish dates to the 1980s and was created by Barovier et Toso. Note: The piece retains its origianl ma...Category
Late 20th Century Italian Modern Centerpieces
MaterialsMurano Glass
- Barovier Toso Murano Copper Aventurine Italian Art Glass Centerpiece Fruit BowlBy Barovier&Toso, Ercole BarovierLocated in Kissimmee, FLBeautiful antique Murano hand blown copper aventurine flecks with thin purple swirl Italian art glass footed centerpiece bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for Barovier e T...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Art Deco Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGold Leaf
- Barovier Toso Murano Gold Flecks Iridescent Italian Art Glass Center Bowl VaseBy Barovier&TosoLocated in Kissimmee, FLBeautiful large vintage Murano hand blown iridescent surface with gold flecks Italian art glass centerpiece bowl. Attributed to the Barovier e Toso company. The piece has controlled ...Category
Mid-20th Century Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGold Leaf
- Barovier Toso Murano Pink Gold Flecks Italian Art Glass Ribbed Compote BowlBy Barovier&Toso, Ercole BarovierLocated in Kissimmee, FLGorgeous vintage Murano hand blown pink and gold flecks Italian art glass footed compote bowl. Documented to designer Ercole Barovier for the Barovier e Toso workshop. Created in the...Category
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Decorative Bowls
MaterialsGold Leaf