Barovier & Toso - Ercole Barovier - Bottle - Translucent Graffito - Murano glass

In this, an exceptional example of 20th-century Murano glass art: a large collector's bottle with original cap, designed by the legendary Ercole Barovier for the 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 is distinguished by a sculptural shape with a quadrangular section and gently rounded corners, giving it a soft monumentality typical of Italian Mid-Century Modern design. It is topped with an important 'mushroom' cap that echoes its stylistic features.
The execution technique is called 'Graffito Diafano.' This complex process involves immersing threads or powders of milk glass (opaque white) within a mass of pure, transparent crystal. During the blowing process, the material is skillfully moved to create an internal design of festoons, waves, or regular 'scratches' that appear to float in nothingness.
The result is an object that plays with light: it is never completely transparent nor fully opaque. It is a 'white on white' that changes appearance depending on the lighting, evoking the texture of silk fabric or a cloud trapped in glass.

• Manufacturer: Barovier & Toso (Murano, Venice).
• Designer: Ercole Barovier (1889-1974).
Period: around 1960.
• Finish: Hand-finished under the base with a diamond tip: 'Barovier & Toso Murano'.
• Dimensions: Height approximately 31cm.
Conditions: Excellent vintage condition.

The Creator
ERCOLE BAROVIER (1889-1974)
Ercole Barovier was not only a designer but also one of the most influential figures in the history of world glass. Descended from 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 only drew shapes, Ercole was a brilliant amateur chemist. He spent his days in the laboratory experimenting with new mineral compounds to achieve colors never seen before. He invented revolutionary techniques such as 'Primavera' (an accidental milky craquelé glass that became a worldwide success), 'Rostrato,' 'Crepuscolo,' and 'Barbarico.' The 'Graffito' series represents his mature phase (the 1950s-1960s), characterized by a return to simplicity and purity, in line with the architectural modernism of the era.

The Factory: BAROVIER & TOSO
La Barovier & Toso boasts an incredible record: it is one of the oldest family businesses in the world still in operation. The Barovier family has been listed in the Murano glassmakers' register since 1295.
Over the centuries, the Barovier family invented 'Venetian Crystal' (Angelo Barovier during the Renaissance). In 1936, a merger with the glassworks of the Toso Brothers gave rise to the current brand, combining the artistic flair of the Barovier family with the production capacity of Toso. Owning a piece of Barovier & Toso means possessing a fragment of 700 years of Venetian history.