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 piece, dating from around 1960, belongs to the famous series "Graffito Diafano" (or simply Graffito), one of the finest and most ethereal techniques developed by the master.

The bottle stands out for its sculptural form with a square-section, softly rounded corners, which give it a gentle monumentality typical of Italian Mid-Century Modern design. It is topped by a prominent mushroom stopper that echoes its stylistic features.
The technique is the "Graffito Diafano." This complex process involves immersing threads or powders of milky glass (opalescent white) inside a mass of crystal-clear crystal. During the blowing, the material is deftly moved to create an internal pattern of festoons, waves, or regular "graffiti" that seem to float in space.
The result is an object that plays with light: it is never fully 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.

• Producer: Barovier & Toso (Murano, Venice).
• Designer: Ercole Barovier (1889-1974).
• Period: around 1960.
• Signature: Hand-signed under the base with a diamond point: "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 kept it for almost 50 years.
Unlike many of his contemporaries who designed only the shapes, 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 (1950s–1960s), characterized by a return to essentials and purity, in line with the architectural modernism of the era.

THE FACTORY: BAROVIER & TOSO
Barovier & Toso boasts an incredible pedigree: it is one of the oldest family businesses in the world still active. The Barovier family has been listed in the Murano glassmakers’ guild since 1295.
Over the centuries, the Barovier have invented the "Venetian Crystal" (Angelo Barovier in the Renaissance). In 1936, the merger with the Glassworks of the Fratelli Toso gave rise to the current brand, uniting the Barovier artistic flair with the Toso production capacity. Owning a Barovier & Toso piece means owning a fragment of 700 years of Venetian history."