BAROVIER & TOSO
Barovier & Toso is one of the oldest family businesses in the world, established in 1295 as Barovier. The name "Barovier" originates from "berroviere," meaning highwayman or policeman, a term indicating someone who bore arms to protect the captain of the people. This suggests the Barovier family, originally from Treviso, settled in Murano around 1291 when the Republic of Venice mandated all glass furnaces be concentrated on the island. Jacobello Barovier was the first family member known to work with glass during this period.
The Toso family joined the Murano glass community around 1350. Angelo Barovier, a significant figure in the family, created glass objects in the 1400s that are now preserved in various museums. Angelo is recognized for uniting and advancing the glassmaking knowledge passed down through the family. He was both an artist and a scientist, contributing significantly to the art of glassmaking.
In 1936, Vetreria Artistica Barovier merged with Ferro Toso, forming Ferro Toso Vetrerie Artistiche Riunite S.A., specializing in crystalline glass, mother-of-pearl glass, and gold-free cornelian red glass. The company was renamed Barovier & Toso in 1942.
Ercole Barovier began his career at the company in 1920, taking over management from his father, Benvenuto, along with his brother Nicolo. Ercole, who studied medicine and worked as a radio operator during World War I, became the main designer by 1927 and the sole owner by 1934. Despite lacking formal training as a glassblower, Ercole's artistic designs became critically acclaimed. His 1930 “Primavera” series, featuring milky white 'craquelé' glass with black or blue pasta vitrea trim, gained notable recognition. One of these pieces, a Primavera Pigeon, sold for approximately $360,000 USD in 2019.
Ercole continued to innovate with designs like the 1940 “Lenti” vase series, which featured a dual-layered construction with clear thick convex forms and thin leaves of pure gold suspended in the glass. The inner layer was made of brightly colored glass, creating an optical illusion of large 'moving' gold leaves. This series was produced in various colors, including cerulean blue, aqua blue, emerald green, lime green, and crimson red.
During the 1940s and 1950s, Barovier & Toso, under Ercole’s leadership, won numerous awards for innovations in the murrine technique. This method involves layering colored liquid glass, stretching it into rods called canes, cooling, and then slicing them into cross-sections to reveal the layered pattern. A notable piece from this period is a 1930 vase described as "clear murrines edged in red with aventurine."
Barovier & Toso's creations are unique works of Venetian mouth-blown crystal, handcrafted by master artisans in Murano. Angelo Barovier developed a revolutionary formula for "Cristallo Veneziano" (Venetian Crystal) in 1455, characterized by extreme transparency and brightness without the use of lead or arsenic, making it safe and sustainable.
The production of Venetian crystal involves a meticulous process. The preparation starts with the partìa, a dry mixture of sands and powders, fired overnight. The master glassmaker crafts the piece the following day, and it is cooled and finished on the third day. This cycle repeats continuously.
In the glassworks, operations are conducted by teams known as piazzas, led by a master glassmaker and his assistants. The master uses traditional tools like tubes, pliers, shears, compasses, templates, and molds. Some pieces are crafted freehand, while others use wooden or cast-iron molds. After hot forming, the glass is moved to a cooling oven and then to the grinding department for finishing and polishing.
Barovier & Toso's commitment to traditional glassmaking techniques and innovative designs has ensured its place as a leader in the world of luxury and artistic lighting.
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