Ribbed Acid Sandblasted Pulegoso Murano Glass Vase by Ercole Barovier, 1950s

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a small, ribbed spherical vase made of hand-blown murano glass, acid-etched with “barovier murano” beneath the … Read more Description of the item
a small, ribbed spherical vase made of hand-blown murano glass, acid-etched with “barovier murano” beneath the base and produced by the renowned barovier & toso glassworks in the second half of the 20th century. The shape is that of a small, compact, and heavy sphere, marked by twelve raised vertical ribs that, when viewed from above, form a star, and which converge toward the narrow, slightly recessed mouth. The glass is a very pure, thick crystal, into which countless ruby-red glass granules are embedded: their density varies from area to area, so the color shifts from the soft pink of the raised sections to the deeper red of the grooves between the ribs, creating a velvety, luminous effect reminiscent of frost or crystallized sugar. Along each rib runs a row of small, controlled air bubbles, intentionally incorporated during the hot-working process, clearly visible especially when viewing the vase from below, where they form a crown of dots around the base. The transparent crystal ribs, which emerge from the colored base like rays of light, give the piece an elegant and almost architectural rhythm, despite its modest size. The manufacture is definitively attested by the “barovier murano” signature, etched in cursive beneath the base in accordance with barovier & toso’s practice. This is further confirmed by the craftsmanship: the raised ribs, the controlled bubbles, and the inclusions of colored powders in the crystal are among the most characteristic techniques of the glassworks, which developed some of its most recognizable forms—specifically on ribbed spherical vases—beginning in the 1930s and 1940s under the guidance of ercole barovier. The vase is intact, with no chips or cracks, and shows only normal contact marks beneath the base. Barovier & toso ranks among the most prestigious glass manufacturers in history, and its longtime artistic director, ercole barovier, is one of the most sought-after masters by collectors worldwide: artprice lists over 3,000 auction results for his glassworks in the “objects” category alone, with the top 100 ranging from approximately 17,000 euros to over 226,000 euros.

information about the artist and/or manufacturer
the barovier family has been working with glass in murano for over seven hundred years: the earliest records date back to the late 13th century, and in the 15th century, angelo barovier perfected the famous venetian “cristallo”—the transparent, colorless glass that made murano famous throughout the world. This continuity makes barovier & toso one of the oldest family-owned businesses in the world still in operation. In 1878, the company was reestablished as fratelli barovier, and in 1926, artistic direction passed to ercole barovier, one of the greatest innovators in glass art of the 20th century. Ercole invented hot coloring without fusion, which gave rise to famous series such as “crepuscolo” and “autunno gemmato,” and experimented freely with murrine, bubbles, colored powders, and gold inclusions. In 1936, the company merged with the toso family’s glassworks, and in 1942 it adopted the name barovier & toso. For decades, it participated in the venice biennales and the milan triennales, earning international recognition, and its works are now housed in major museums of glass and decorative arts. The company’s headquarters, palazzo contarini in murano, also houses the barovier & toso private museum, which features some of the most important works ever created on the island. This piece has an attribution mark,
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