Barovier & Toso Glass Identification Guide + Gallery
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The Barovier family has a history in Murano dating back to 1295, when the first of their family, Jacobello Barovier, began working with glass, just four years after all glassmakers in Venice were ordered to move to Murano due to the risk of fire. In 1877, Antonio Salviati together with technician Antonio Camozzo, glass blower Giovanni Barovier, and four sons of his brother Antonio Barovier: Benvenuto, Giuseppe, and Benedetto (also glass blowers), founded Salviati Dott. Antonio. Salviati was bought out by Camozzo and the Baroviers in 1883, and the company was renamed Vetri Artistici - Fratelli Barovier. In 1886 the name changed again to Artisti Barovier. Benvenuto left in 1919, succeded by his sons Nicolo and Ercole, prompting another name change to Vetreria Artistica Barovier & Co. Nicolo and Ercole managed the company alongside Napoleone Barovier (son of Giuseppe). Luigi Ferro and Antonio Seguso were master glass blowers at the company at this time. Napoleone, Luigi and Antonio left in 1931 to form their own company Barovier Seguso & Ferro two years later (eventually this became Seguso Vetri d'Arte). Nicolo left in 1934, leaving Ercole Barovier as the sole owner. In 1936 the company merged with Ferro Toso. The merged company was first known as Ferro Toso Barovier, Vetrerie Artistiche Riunite S.A., before finally becoming Barovier e Toso, which they are still named today. Chief designer Ercole Barovier created many well known designs, including Crepuscolo, Brillantati, Zebrati, Graffito, Acanto, and of course the popular ribbed, rope like design Cordonato d'Oro. The company still exists today.
Sources: Murano Glass Themes and Variations (1910 - 1970) by Marc Heiremans.
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Barovier & Toso Labels & Marks
Artisti Barovier, Murano" dark blue or black & white square paper label, with space for a pattern number, used between 1878 - 1914.
"Verreries Artistiques Barovier & C, Murano, Made in Italy" red & white rectangular paper label, with space for a pattern number, used between 1919 - 1942(?). Date given as 1919 - 1934 in MH's Patterns & Variations book, but has also been seen alongside the following FTB label.
"FTB, Murano" green & silver circular foil label, used between 1936 - 1942. the initials stand for "Ferro Toso Barovier".
"Barovier & Toso, Made in Italy" green & silver circular foil label, used between 1942 - 1955.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano, Made in Italy" green & gold circular foil label.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano, Made in Italy" red & white rectangular paper label, with squared corners and white outiline to top section, used between 1942 - 1955.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano, Made in Italy" red & white rectangular paper label, with rounded corners, used between 1956 - 1970.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano" red & silver circular foil label, used between 1956 - 1970.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano Venezia, Made in Italy" red & white rectangular paper label, used between 1971 - 1984.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano Venezia" red & clear rectangular plastic label, used between 1971 - 1984.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano" three line signature. Used from the 1970's and still used today.
"Barovier & Toso, Murano Venezia, Made in Italy" red & clear diamond shaped plastic label, used since 1985.
"Made in Italy" paper stock label, found on Barovier & Toso lamp.
Cordonato d'Oro
Meaning golden cord (or rope), this striking design is probably the most well known range by Barovier & Toso, created in the 1950's by Ercole Barovier. The design has since been reproduced by other Murano factories, including Fratelli Toso and AVEM. Consists of clear and/or coloured glass decorated with gold leaf, in a rope-like, vertical ribbed pattern.
A red Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" vase with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso, with retailer and factory labels.
A green Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" vase with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A red Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" vase with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A red Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso, labelled.
A clear and red Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" vase with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso. The same design but without the footed base, can be found online with their factory label, and the pattern number 19594.
Ref [click here].
A red Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" posy vase or bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear and green Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" vase with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear and green Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" vase with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A green and clear Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" vase with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" basket shaped bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A red and clear Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" bird bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" bird sculpture with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
An orangey red Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear and purple Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear and red Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear and green Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear and purple Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear and green Murano glass "Cordonato d'Oro" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A Bolle (With Bubbles)
Consists of clear and/or coloured glass decorated with gold leaf and controlled bubble patterns, sometimes with a vertical ribbed pattern similar to the Cordonato d'Oro range.
A pink and clear Murano glass lamp with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A pink and clear Murano glass lamp with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso, stock label to base.
A clear and pink Murano glass vase with gold leaf inclusions and bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A blue and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A green and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A green and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso. Can be found with a 1936 - 1955 factory label.
Ref [click here].
A red and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso. Can be found with a 1936 - 1955 factory label.
Ref [click here].
A blue and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A purple and clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and encased bubbles. Made by Barovier & Toso.
Graffito (and similar)
Designed by Ercole Barovier, probably during the 1950's. Consists of clear glass decorated with gold leaf, and bands of opaque colour, which are then "scratched" to create a festooned or feathered pattern. Similar designs are also shown here, without the scratched effect. I believe the term graffito (Italian for graffiti) is in reference to the coloured bands, which are darker at the edges and resemble the effect of spray paints used in graffiti.
A clear Murano glass "Graffito" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and purple spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Graffito" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions, encased bubbles and blue spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions, encased bubbles and green spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso, signed.
A clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions, and green spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Graffito" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions, encased bubbles and purple spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions, purple speckles, and white spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
Zebrati (and similar)
Designed by Ercole Barovier, probably during the 1950's. Consists of clear glass decorated with gold leaf, and thin bands of colour, creating a zebra-like pattern. There has not been any real clear definition of zebrati by realiable sources, so some of the items shown below may not officially be from the zebrati range.
A clear Murano glass "Zebrati" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and brown spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Zebrati" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and brown spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Zebrati" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions and red spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
A clear Murano glass "Zebrati" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions, encased bubbles and purple spiralling pattern. Made by Barovier & Toso.
Porpora
Introduced in 1954, designed by Ercole Barovier. Consists of purple coloured glass decorated with gold leaf.
A pinkish purple Murano glass "Porpora" ashtray bowl with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso, signed and labelled.
Other Barovier & Toso Glass
A blue Murano glass bird sculpture with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso, these birds can be found with labels used by Barovier between 1955 - 1970.
A pink Murano glass bird sculpture with gold leaf inclusions. Made by Barovier & Toso, these birds can be found with labels used by Barovier between 1955 - 1970.
A pink Murano glass shell shaped ashtray bowl. Made by Barovier & Toso, signed and labelled.
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Reference Websites
For more information on Barovier & Toso glass, check out the following resources: