Hi Jonah,

Thank you for contacting Mearto with your appraisal inquiry.

The Barovier family has a history in Murano dating back to 1295, when the first of their family, Jacobello Barovier, began working with glass, just four years after all glassmakers in Venice were ordered to move to Murano due to the risk of fire. In 1877, Antonio Salviati together with technician Antonio Camozzo, glass blower Giovanni Barovier, and four sons of his brother Antonio Barovier: Benvenuto, Giuseppe, and Benedetto (also glass blowers), founded Salviati Dott. Antonio. Salviati was bought out by Camozzo and the Baroviers in 1883, and the company was renamed Vetri Artistici - Fratelli Barovier. In 1886 the name changed again to Artisti Barovier. Benvenuto left in 1919, succeded by his sons Nicolo and Ercole, prompting another name change to Vetreria Artistica Barovier & Co. Nicolo and Ercole managed the company alongside Napoleone Barovier (son of Giuseppe). Luigi Ferro and Antonio Seguso were master glass blowers at the company at this time. Napoleone, Luigi and Antonio left in 1931 to form their own company Barovier Seguso & Ferro two years later (eventually this became Seguso Vetri d'Arte). Nicolo left in 1934, leaving Ercole Barovier as the sole owner. In 1936 the company merged with Ferro Toso. The merged company was first known as Ferro Toso Barovier, Vetrerie Artistiche Riunite S.A., before finally becoming Barovier e Toso, which they are still named today. Chief designer Ercole Barovier created many well known designs, including Crepuscolo, Brillantati, Zebrati, Graffito, Acanto, and of course the popular ribbed, rope like design Cordonato d'Oro. The company still exists today.

Barovier & Toso's Bullicante glass is a distinctive Murano glass technique characterized by an effect of controlled bubbles embedded within the glass. This style is often seen in vintage decorative items like vases, bowls, and lighting, frequently combined with other elements like gold leaf inclusions and various colors. To create the Bullicante effect, molten glass is manipulated with a metallic mold that has spikes, resulting in a unique, textured appearance.

While retailers and private sellers can sell their Bullicante vases for several hundred or even a few thousand dollars (a retail price), when sold at auction, they don't bring quite that much; comparable vases are currently selling at auction for between $400 and $700.

Based on the photos and information provided, and subject to examination, this is:

A vintage Barovier & Toso "Bullicante" asymmetrical glass vase
mid-late 20th Century
Of circular form with asymmetrical sides, the rim with rounded nodules, the sides with striated streaks of opaque glass and adorned with rounded nodules, on a circular foot.
12 inches tall
CONDITION: This appears to be in good condition.
PROVENANCE: Acquired at auction
$ 400-700*
*represents a fair-market value for auction purposes; retail or asking price may vary.

Please let us know if you have additional items to appraise, or questions/concerns, and thank you again for using Mearto.
~ Delia