ABOUT

Murano and glass have been synonymous for centuries. Glassmaking flourished on this Venetian island since the thirteenth century, and by 1291, when the city of Venice decreed that all glass manufacturing on the main island must cease to prevent fires, Murano had already become the centre for glass production. The decree concluded a development that had been taking place in the preceding decades, making it easier to preserve the glassmakers' techniques and trade secrets. The resulting concentration of talent and expertise, combined with Venice's position as a major trade centre, made Venetian glass legendary across the world.

 

‘For centuries, glass has been integral to the world of design and applied arts. My dream in founding Galleria Barovier&Toso was to bring this extraordinary material into the realm of fine art – to present it not as something in between, but as a sophisticated artistic medium worthy of the same consideration as any other form of contemporary art, if not more!’

 

— Rinaldo Invernizzi, President

 

  • THE BAROVIER&TOSO LEGACY THE BAROVIER&TOSO LEGACY THE BAROVIER&TOSO LEGACY THE BAROVIER&TOSO LEGACY

    THE BAROVIER&TOSO LEGACY

    Galleria Barovier&Toso draws upon the extraordinary heritage of Barovier&Toso, the world's oldest glassworks company. The earliest documented evidence of the Barovier family in Murano dates to 1324, when Iacobellus Beroier de Muriano (Iacobello Barovier of Murano) – likely born around 1295 and originally from the Treviso area – is mentioned in legal documents preserved in the State Archives of Venice. The first reference to the family's profession survives in a document from 1343, where Iacobello's son Antonio is qualified as a glassmaker (‘phyolarius’), confirming their activity in glass production. In the fifteenth century, Angelo Barovier rose to fame for his scientific experiments in improving the transparency of glass, while his daughter Marietta was celebrated for the rosette bead, multi-layered star-patterned glass pearls that were exported across Africa and the Americas. The celebrated so-called 'Barovier Cup' at the Glass Museum in Murano, dated to the 1470s, showcases the brilliance of Murano craftsmanship with its crystalline blue glass decorated with polychrome enamels, gold and Renaissance iconographic motifs. Towards the end of the sixteenth century, three Barovier glass-masters each ran their own furnace in Murano, distinguished by the insignias of an Angel, a Bell and a Star, derived from the masters' names, the three elements that would be used in modern times to form the coat of arms of Barovier&Toso. This unbroken tradition of glass artistry and innovation spanning seven centuries provides the foundation upon which Galleria Barovier&Toso builds its contemporary art programme.

     

  • GALLERIA BAROVIER&TOSO
    Palazzo Barovier&Toso, Murano

    GALLERIA BAROVIER&TOSO

    To explore Murano glass as pure artistic material beyond its functional tradition, Galleria Barovier&Toso invites internationally renowned artists who have had little or no prior experience working with this ancient medium to engage with the island's centuries-long legacy of craftsmanship.
    The gallery presents glass within the context of each artist's practice – whether painting, sculpture, textiles, video art or other creative expressions – inviting artists to work with glass as they would with any other artistic medium. By contextualising these contemporary works historically and analysing influences across artistic traditions from a globally open perspective, the gallery elevates glass beyond its traditional categorisation as craft, affirming its significance as a sophisticated artistic medium. 
    The gallery's programme features annual exhibitions in Murano at Palazzo Barovier&Toso, developed as site-specific installations. These exhibitions are accompanied by catalogues, featuring essays by academic contributors alongside insights into the artists' experiences of working with glass. The gallery further represents its artistic projects internationally through external collaborations and regular participation in leading art fairs, working with collectors, professionals and institutions worldwide.
     
    Through a curated donation programme, selected works from these exhibitions enter the Fondazione Barovier&Toso Art Collection, building an exceptional collection of glass art that celebrates both artistic innovation and Venetian heritage. The collection remains accessible for future generations, and loan requests may be directed to the foundation.
     
     FONDAZIONE BAROVIER&TOSO
     
    To discover Barovier&Toso's collections of luxury hand-blown Murano glass lighting and interior design, exceptional works crafted by master artisans and custodians of an age-old tradition passed down across generations for over 700 years, visit:
     
     BAROVIER&TOSO