Barovier & Toso - Ercole Barovier - Bottle - Diaphanous Graffiti - Murano glass

Here is an exceptional example of Murano glass art from the 20th century: a large collectible bottle with its original stopper, designed by the legendary Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso glassworks. The work, datable around 1960, belongs to the famous series "Graffito Diafano" (or simply Graffito), one of the most refined and ethereal techniques developed by the master. The bottle stands out for a sculptural, square-section form with softly chamfered corners, giving it a soft monumental presence typical of Italian Mid-Century Modern design. It is topped by a substantial mushroom stopper that echoes its stylistic features. The executing technique is the "Graffito Diafano". This complex process involves the immersion of threads or powders of milky glass (opalescent white) inside a mass of impeccably pure transparent crystal. During blown glass work, the material is deftly moved to create an internal design of festoons, waves, or regular "graffiti" that seem to float in nowhere. The result is an object that plays with light: it is never fully transparent nor completely opaque. It is a "white on white" that changes appearance depending on the illumination, evoking the texture of a silk fabric or a cloud trapped in glass. • Producer: Barovier & Toso (Murano, Venice). • Designer: Ercole Barovier (1889-1974). • Period: around 1960. • Signature: Hand-signed under the base with a diamond-tip: "barovier & toso murano". • Dimensions: Height about 31 cm • Condition: Excellent vintage condition THE CREATOR: ERCOLE BAROVIER (1889-1974) Ercole Barovier was not only a designer but one of the most influential figures in the history of world glass. A descendant of a dynasty of glassmakers, he took on the artistic direction of the company in 1926 and held it for nearly 50 years. Unlike many of his contemporaries who designed only forms, Ercole was a brilliant amateur chemist. He spent days in the laboratory experimenting with new mineral compounds to achieve colors never seen before. He invented revolutionary techniques such as the "Primavera" (milky crackled glass that became a worldwide success), the "Rostrato", the "Crepuscolo", and the "Barbarico". The Graffito series represents his mature phase (the 1950s-60s), characterized by a return to essentiality and purity, in line with the architectural modernism of the era. THE FACTORY: BAROVIER & TOSO Barovier & Toso boasts an incredible lineage: it is one of the oldest family-run companies still in operation. The Barovier family has been registered with the Murano glassmakers’ guild since 1295. Over the centuries, the Barovier family invented the "Cristallo Veneziano" (Angelo Barovier in the Renaissance). In 1936, the merger with the glassworks of the Fratelli Toso gave life to the current brand, combining the artistic flair of the Barovier with the production capacity of the Toso. Owning a Barovier & Toso piece means owning a fragment of 700 years of Venetian history.

Estimate:$896.18

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