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Little Elephant in Murano Glass and Gold Leaf Attributed to Ercole Barovier 1930s
€250Bid from €225
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Sculpture of a baby elephant in Murano glass and gold leaf, whose creation is attributed to Ercole Barovier in the 1930s. Ø 12.5 cm, Ø 7 cm, h 15 cm. Ercole Barovier (1889 – 1974) was one of the most influential and innovative Murano glassmakers of the 20th century. Born into the ancient and renowned Barovier glassmaking family, whose lineage dates back to 1295, he initially defied family expectations by choosing medicine, only to later dedicate his entire career to the art of glass. He became a partner in Vetreria Artistica Barovier & C. in 1919 and served as its artistic director from 1926. In 1936, the company merged to become Ferro Toso Barovier, then Barovier & Toso, which he led as artistic director until 1972. Ercole Barovier was not merely a glass designer; he was a brilliant chemist and experimenter who pushed the boundaries of glassmaking. He is credited with creating over 25,000 designs and inventing numerous new techniques and decorative processes that revolutionized Murano glass art. His approach was often empirical, working directly in the furnace with master glassmakers to bring his ideas to life. Barovier's work evolved through various periods, demonstrating his incredible versatility and inventiveness:
**Primavera (circa 1930):** A famous technique discovered by chance, characterized by semi-transparent, milky white glass with a distinctive craquelé (cracked) texture.
**Rostrato (from 1938):** One of his most recognizable and patented techniques. It involves pulling hot glass with pincers to create large, regular, pointed spikes that spectacularly refract light. The "Ercole" lamp by Barovier & Toso today is a tribute to this technique.
**Mugnoni (1930s-1940s):** Heavy blown glass with applied "stampi" (small patches of glass) often containing air bubbles.
**Hot coloring without fusion (patented in 1937):** A revolutionary technique where oxide and metal fragments are inserted between layers of incandescent transparent glass, reacting to create surprising chromatic effects without fully fusing with the glass. This led to series such as "Barbarici" and "Eugenei."
**Vetro Rugiada (1940):** Embedding micro-fragments of transparent glass within the mass to make the surface sparkle like morning dew.
**Oriente (1940):** Characterized by organic forms and vibrant colors, often with silver leaf, reflecting a shift towards more expressive shapes.
**Barbarici (from 1940):** Influenced by ancient motifs, these pieces feature rough, textured surfaces and primitive forms, often created using the hot coloring without fusion technique.
**Lenti (1940s):** Vases and decorative objects adorned with large molded hemispheres.
**Cordonato Oro (1950s):** Characterized by thick ribs often enclosing spiral golden bands, creating a luxurious and distinctive appearance.
**Murrine (reinterpretation, 1950s):** Although murrine is an ancient technique, Barovier reinvented it with series such as "Murrine Romane" (Roman Murrine) (1950s) and "Neo-Murrine" (1972), exploring new compositions of fused colored glass tesserae.
**Millefili (1950s):** Delicate striped decoration created by numerous thin glass canes fused together.
**Pezzato (1950s):** Objects made with irregular patches of colored glass fused together, creating a mosaic effect.
**Efeso (1964):** Known for its heavy, robust forms, often with a rough or textured surface.
Additional details:
- Brand: Ercole Barovier
- Material: Foglia d'Oro
- Colour: Oro
- Period: Anni 30
Specifications
ConditionGoodMaterialMurano GlassBrand / designerBarovier
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About this seller
ProfessionalMilano, ItalyOn Whoppah since July 2026 • 0 sales