Barovier & Toso preserves centuries of history, centuries-old craftsmanship, luxury lighting, the excellence of uniqueness.
Every single element of light is entirely handmade, by excellent craftsmen, masters of blown glass.
This company, Italian pride, has become a world reference in interior lighting, has written the history of Italian lighting since 1295.
A dynasty of glassmakers, born as simple "glass blowers" and still a reference in the world of lighting, furniture and luxury design.
Barovier & Toso, The Company
Located in Venice, Barovier & Toso is a company specializing in the production of glass lighting products. Recognized as one of the oldest companies still in business.
The origins of the company begin with the Barovier family, originally from the Treviso area, who moved to Murano since the mid-thirteenth century.
Since then, the family has embarked on a century-old tradition, entirely dedicated to glass processing, as confirmed by the documents of the time, which link some members of the family to the profession of glass blower.
The company has undergone several changes over time, and among the most important events is its re-foundation in 1878, which took place thanks to Benvenuto and Giuseppe Barovier, which will lead the company towards new innovative goals.
At the end of the century, the brothers introduced the processing of fused “Murrini” which gave way to the production of abstract works and floral motifs. The research and development of new techniques brings great results to the company, and it is at the beginning of the twentieth century that the works in "mother of pearl glass" and "carnelian red without gold" are patented.
Ercole Barovier, son of Benvenuto, succeeds his father in the artistic direction of the company, leading, in 1942 following the merger with the F.lli Toso glassworks, to the renaming of the company in Barovier & Toso.
Thanks to this new collaboration, Ercole invented the new technique of hot coloring, eliminating the glass melting phase.
Today the Palazzo Contarini in Murano is one of the company's headquarters, it houses the glass art museum dedicated to the iconic works and the history of the Barovier & Toso brand.
Barovier & Toso, Production Process
The processing of the crystal is a very long process, which begins in the middle of the day and proceeds overnight with cooking, until the next day, where the master glassmaker will begin a cold finishing process, which will end on the third day.
Every day the dry mixture is prepared thanks to the cold mixture of sands and powders that will lead to the production of the type of glass, scheduled for the days.
Each Master works the crystal, using ancient tools and techniques, in which the identity of the company resides and the great craftsmanship that has remained unchanged over time, through the use of rods, pliers, scissors and compasses.
Various processes are carried out by "flying hand" (free hand), however the blowing also takes place using wooden or cast iron molds or by pouring into molds for the realization of glass in the plate.
After the first stages of processing, the product retains a still very hot temperature, around 500 °, for this reason it is transferred to an oven for cooling, to finally be processed again, once cold.
At this point, the glass passes from the furnace area to enter the "milling" department, where it is finished by means of mechanical tools using saws and grinding wheels.
In conclusion, the product is washed, in order to be subjected to quality control, pre-assembly, and then packaged and shipped.
This process makes Barovier & Toso's recipe unique today, handed down thanks to the artisan tradition that has always distinguished the brand and developed and perfected over the years, eliminating the presence of lead and arsenic.
These are the characteristics that make the Venetian Crystal unique and different from any other product on the market, like the whole production process, carried out in total safety by the various craftsmen.
Each element in Venetian Crystal is produced in the furnaces of Murano, while the structures and the various components are found in various locations on Italian soil, through an intense creative commitment, of which Barovier & Toso certifies originality and quality.
Barovier & Toso, Products And Design
The Taif chandelier was created in 1980 to illuminate the Saudi king's residence in Taif, the city from which it takes its name. Commissioned directly by the king to a French studio that turned to Barovier & Toso for the production of Taif, and to combine the purely French request with the Venetian style.
Taif is still an icon of Barovier & Toso. Symbol of the search for timeless perfection.
Taif is available as a 6, 9, 12 or 18 lights chandelier. There is also a wall version with 2 or 5 lights. The metal parts are available in the chrome or gold version.
Suspensions, chandeliers, floor lamps, wall lamps, table lamps, the brilliance of the colors, combined with the transparency of the glass, recreates a magical environment in the areas illuminated by Barovier & Toso lighting.
The peculiarity of each product is that it makes each environment personalized and different, also and above all in reaction to how it is presented.
For example, the Hermitage ceiling lamp, cataloged as a ceiling lamp, is a collection of 5 chandeliers that can be combined together, making the decorative element "pastoral" with respect to the subject of light. Suitable for different environments, thanks to its modularity, this chandelier allows you to create real interior lighting projects around it.
The Barovier & Toso Palace
The Brovier & Toso Palace, which stands directly on the banks of the Rio Dei Vetrai, seals the company's bond with the place that has housed the oldest furnaces in the world for centuries.
Thanks to the Milanese studio Calvi Brambilla, the building, a former industrial building, has undergone a total redevelopment, transforming the interior spaces into a temple of luxury, which tells the story of this incredible company. The exclusive setting, located near the historic headquarters, leads visitors to a showroom, divided into three floors, for an experience along the history of the brand, since its inception in 1925.
The redevelopment project involves the reinterpretation of the characteristic architectural elements of ancient buildings, in a modern guise, from the boiserie to the black or white Venetian floor, from the distribution of the rooms to their color, establishing its chromatic declination for each component.
The redevelopment has set itself the goal of creating a space that praises craftsmanship and to gather in a welcoming and elegant environment the passion that has characterized the production of glass masters for seven hundred years.
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