Design Masterworks 
19 May 2016
Design Masterworks 
37

Ercole Barovier

Tessere Ambra vase

Barovier & Toso
Italy, 1957
alternating glass tessere edged in amethyst 6½ h × 6¾ dia in (17 × 17 cm)
estimate: $20,000–30,000
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Signed with applied manufacturer's label to underside: [Barovier & Toso Murano Made in Italy].
provenance: An Important American Collection
literature: Venetian Art Glass: An American Collection 1840-1970, Barovier, pg. 153 illustrates series Art Glass from Murano 1910-1970, Heiremans, pl. 49, pg. 56 illustrates similar example Ercole Barovier 1889-1974: Vetraio Muranese, Dorigato, pg. 103 illustrates series

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Tessere Ambra

Flexible Geometry

Period photo of additional Tessere Ambra forms. (Reproduced from Venedig Zeigt Glas Aus Murano by Giovanni Mariacher, 1958, Österreichisches Museum für Angewandte Kunst)

Rectangular orange-caramel sections of semi-opaque glass edged in amethyst achieve a surprisingly flexible structural geometry in Tessere Ambra. Designed in 1956, this series marks the beginning of two decades of successful experimentation with glass tessere. The piece presented here exhibits nearly perfect geometric patterning in a rare and unusual form.

Ercole Barovier 1889–1974

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The nearly fifty year tenure of Ercole Barovier as artistic director, designer and owner of Barovier & Toso is unprecedented in the history of Murano glass, and the firm’s success stands as a testament to his singular artistic talent and entrepreneurial genius.

Born in 1889 to a Muranese family that could trace its origins back to the 13th century, Barovier did not train as a glassblower but had a great passion for glass and quickly distinguished himself as an innovative designer. He joined Artisti Barovier in 1919 at the age of thirty and found success designing vases in the mosaic technique. In 1930 he produced the critically acclaimed and award-winning Primavera series, the success of which encouraged him to continue his experiments.

Auction Results Ercole Barovier

Ercole Barovier

Murrine vase

estimate: $15,000–20,000

result: $317,000

Ercole Barovier

Important Primavera vase

estimate: $250,000–350,000

result: $293,000

Ercole Barovier

Important Mosaico vase

estimate: $150,000–200,000

result: $257,000

Ercole Barovier

Vaso Mosaico

estimate: $30,000–40,000

result: $245,000

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