Murano, 1935, Italian, Attributed to Fratelli Toso Technical Avventurina

Murano Fratelli Toso, Venice One of the oldest glass factories established in Murano, Fratelli Toso was founded in 1854 by six brothers who loved the art of glassmaking. With over 150 years of experience in the field, the Toso family improved their techniques and nowadays are one of the top award-winning manufacturers of Murano glass. Technical Avventurina : Avventurina is a Murano glass-making technique developed on Murano island in the 17th century. I was first mentioned in a document dating from 1614 as "a kind of stone with gilt stars inside", at which point it already mesmerized people with the unusual and attractive look. The technique owes its name to the fact that its discovery happened by chance thanks to a lucky coincidence, when a glass artisan is said to have accidentally dropped some metal shavings into the glass mixture. Italians say it happened "all'avventura", which in Italian means "by chance". The first documented recipe for the technique dates from 1644, when Murano master glassmaker Giovanni Darduin described how Avventurina glass should be created. The recipe involves adding various metal oxides such as copper and iron to the hot glass mixture, which will cause tiny particles of the metals to crystallize as the glass mixture cools off. Complicating the process, for such crystallization to occur the furnace had to get fully extinguished, and the metal particles would slowly separate from the glass base over a few days during the natural cooling of the glass. This was a very difficult process from a logistical perspective, since every time a glass furnace got extinguished it caused work to be paused, and re-igniting it was quite a big process, as it took time to fully heat it to the desired temperature. As industrial revolution set foot on Murano in the nineteenth century, the process got a remake. Large volumes of fine Avventurina paste were made and then skillfully stretched into glass canes, which were then re-melted for jewelry-making under a small flame, or for glass blowing. This Avventurina paste received worldwide acclaim and re-ignited the fame of Murano Glass workshops due to its use in Salviati mosaics...

Murano Edge finished with a crimping tool, gold appliqués. Technical Avventurina : Avventurina is a Murano glass-making technique developed on Murano island in the 17th century. I was first mentioned in a document dating from 1614 as "a kind of stone with gilt stars inside", at which point it already mesmerized people with the unusual and attractive look. The technique owes its name to the fact that its discovery happened by chance thanks to a lucky coincidence, when a glass artisan is said to have accidentally dropped some metal shavings into the glass mixture. Italians say it happened "all'avventura", which in Italian means "by chance". The first documented recipe for the technique dates from 1644, when Murano master glassmaker Giovanni Darduin described how Avventurina glass should be created. The recipe involves adding various metal oxides such as copper and iron to the hot glass mixture, which will cause tiny particles of the metals to crystallize as the glass mixture cools off. Complicating the process, for such crystallization to occur the furnace had to get fully extinguished, and the metal particles would slowly separate from the glass base over a few days during the natural cooling of the glass. This was a very difficult process from a logistical perspective, since every time a glass furnace got extinguished it caused work to be paused, and re-igniting it was quite a big process, as it took time to fully heat it to the desired temperature. As industrial revolution set foot on Murano in the nineteenth century, the process got a remake. Large volumes of fine Avventurina paste were made and then skillfully stretched into glass canes, which were then re-melted for jewelry-making under a small flame, or for glass blowing. This Avventurina paste received worldwide acclaim and re-ignited the fame of Murano Glass workshops due to its use in Salviati mosaics...

Attributed to Barovier Toso We have specialized in the sale of Art Deco and Art Nouveau and Vintage styles since 1982. The company is one of the oldest family businesses in the world, founded in 1295 as Barovier. "The name Barovier derives from the term berroviere (highwayman/policman , which indicates the armigero (person entitled to bear arms guarding the captain of the people. It is probable that some Barovier, originally from Treviso, settled in Murano around 1291, when a law of the Republic imposed the concentration on the island of all glass furnaces." Jacobello was the first member of the Barovier family to work glass at this time. It is thought that the company originated in Treviso[citation needed]. The Toso family had been established in Murano since around 1350. In the 1400s Angelo Barovier created glass objects which are currently preserved in various museums. Angelo is recognized as significant for uniting the knowledge which had been developed and handed down by family Barovier. He was not only considered and artist but a scientist. The company became Ferro Toso Vetrerie Artistiche Riunite S.A in 1936 when Vetreria Artistica Barovier merged with Ferro Toso, specializing in crystalline glass, mother-of-pearl glass, and gold-free cornelian red glass. In 1942, the company was renamed Barovier & Toso. In 1919–1920, 30 year old designer Ercole Barovier began a 50-year career as the artistic director of Barovier & Toso. "After studying medicine and working as a radio operator during World War One he joined the family firm in 1920 when he and his brother Nicolo took over the management from their father Benvenuto. From 1927 Ercole was the main designer and from 1934, when Nicolo left the company, (he was) also the sole owner." While Barovier did not have formal training as a glassblower, his artistic designs produced objets d'art that have become the most critically acclaimed in the history of Ercole - Barovier.[9] In 1930 he produced his award-winning “Primavera” series. "The Primavera series ... is distinguished by a milky white 'craquelé' glass with the addition of black or blue pasta vitrea trim ("opaque colored glass whose consistency is made to appear like ceramic") and decoration. There was a very limited production of this series due to the fact that it was a result of a glass mixture obtained accidentally so it could never be replicated. Barovier continued to produce innovative designs of which the “Lenti” vase...

Murano. With silver applications. Technical Avventurina : Avventurina is a Murano glass-making technique developed on Murano island in the 17th century. I was first mentioned in a document dating from 1614 as "a kind of stone with gilt stars inside", at which point it already mesmerized people with the unusual and attractive look. The technique owes its name to the fact that its discovery happened by chance thanks to a lucky coincidence, when a glass artisan is said to have accidentally dropped some metal shavings into the glass mixture. Italians say it happened "all'avventura", which in Italian means "by chance". The first documented recipe for the technique dates from 1644, when Murano master glassmaker Giovanni Darduin described how Avventurina glass should be created. The recipe involves adding various metal oxides such as copper and iron to the hot glass mixture, which will cause tiny particles of the metals to crystallize as the glass mixture cools off. Complicating the process, for such crystallization to occur the furnace had to get fully extinguished, and the metal particles would slowly separate from the glass base over a few days during the natural cooling of the glass. This was a very difficult process from a logistical perspective, since every time a glass furnace got extinguished it caused work to be paused, and re-igniting it was quite a big process, as it took time to fully heat it to the desired temperature. As industrial revolution set foot on Murano in the nineteenth century, the process got a remake. Large volumes of fine Avventurina paste were made and then skillfully stretched into glass canes, which were then re-melted for jewelry-making under a small flame, or for glass blowing. This Avventurina paste received worldwide acclaim and re-ignited the fame of Murano Glass workshops due to its use in Salviati mosaics...

Fratelli Toso centerpiece.

Beautiful vintage decorative Italian handcrafted murano glass, 1970s.

Made in Italy, 1960s. This ashtray / catchall is made in murano glass with murrines and silver leaf. This is a vintage piece, therefore it might show slight traces of use, but it can...

Incredible center piece atributed to Fratelli Toso 1950 in Murano glass with venturine and zanfirico