Ercole Barovier “Bugnato” Murano Glass Vase for Barovier & Toso

A striking example of Ercole Barovier’s “Bugnato” glass, produced for Barovier & Toso in Murano during the 1960s.

Formed in substantial clear glass, the vase has a strong cylindrical silhouette with a gently undulating rim and a broad, stepped circular foot. Its surface is richly worked with rows of rounded, raised glass elements, creating an intricate relief that catches and refracts the light from every angle. The individual forms are soft and fluid rather than sharply projecting, giving the vase a wonderfully tactile quality.

The considerable weight and depth of the glass give the piece an impressive sense of solidity, while the transparency keeps the overall effect light and luminous. Viewed from different angles, the layered relief creates constantly changing patterns of reflection and distortion within the clear glass.

The Bugnato technique is closely associated with Ercole Barovier and his innovative work for Barovier & Toso, with examples of the form produced across different periods of his career. This later version has the sculptural presence and highly distinctive surface treatment that make Barovier’s work so recognisable.

A particularly beautiful piece for collectors of Murano glass, with its combination of architectural form, exceptional material weight and elaborate yet restrained surface decoration.