Nicolò Barovier 1895–1947

The son of Benvenuto Barovier, Nicolò Barovier was both an entrepreneur and a designer. He and his brother, Ercole Barovier, joined the Vetreria Artistica Barovier & C. in 1919 as partners and glass designers. After 1926, they both became managers of the company. His familiarity with contemporary painting led him to produce extraordinary murrine vessels, which can be recognized for their elaborate geometric patterns and their unique colors. From 1932 on, he shared ownership of Vetreria Artistica Barovier & C. with his brother Ercole. He worked actively in the glass workshop through 1936.

A murrine

Vetreria Artistica Barovier, 1924

Information

Nicolò Barovier A murrineVetreria Artistica Barovier, 1924

A vetro mosaico vase crafted with multicolored translucent tessere and canes of glass. The tessere are set to create an extraordinary and unique decorative pattern.

Engraved:
N. Barovier Murano.
12 1/4 in. high (31.1 cm)

Exhibitions:
2000, New York, Venetian Glass, Museum of Arts & Design;
2001, Milan, Murano: Vetri dalla Collezione Olnick Spanu,
Spazio Oberdan.

Bibliography and comparative texts:
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1977, n. 2;
A. Dorigato, 1989, n. 2;
R. Barovier Mentasti, 1992, n. 40;
M. Barovier, 1993, n. 66;
Olnick Spanu, 2000, n. 4;
Olnick Spanu, 2001, n. 6.

Workshop

Vetreria Artistica Barovier 1919–1936

In 1919, Artisti Barovier changed its name to Vetreria Artistica Barovier and several new partners were added. Among them were Ercole Barovier and Nicolò Barovier, Benvenuto Barovier's sons, and Giuseppe Barovier's son Napoleone. In 1926, Ercole and Nicolò Barovier took over the management of the company and both became artistic directors, creating, among other things, sophisticated multicolored vessels a murrine and singular animals in blown glass. After 1932, Nicolò and Ercole Barovier became sole proprietors of the company. Ercole designed many objects that earned the company remarkable success, among them the Primavera series.

A tireless creator of new collections and glass textures, Ercole Barovier dedicated himself to perfecting the colorazione a caldo senza fusione, which he began using during the second half of the '30s. In 1936, after the separation from his brother Nicolò, Ercole Barovier became partner of the S.A.I.A.R. Ferro Toso, forming Ferro Toso e Barovier.

A murrine

Vetreria Artistica Barovier, 1924