Primavera Vase
Perhaps the most beautiful, rarefied and poetic of all Primavera objects, the vase presented here represents Ercole Barovier’s first, and perhaps finest triumph as a designer of 20th century Murano art glass.
When presented at the Biennale of 1930 Primavera glass was immediately recognized as an icon of late jazz-age style. Featured in numerous period photographs, this particular model is seen by many as the ultimate expression of pre-war Murano art glass; it possesses a lush baroque sensuality expressed in a reduced modernist form. Embellished with rich, oversized dimensional drops executed in blue-black glass applied over a spherical semi-transparent body, the visual impact of the vase conveys both high medieval and modernist sensibilities.
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
