In Venice, one of the world’s oldest family-run businesses is still in operation. The Barovier & Toso glassworks has evolved and transformed over time; starting with blowing glass bottles, today it is a world-renowned and exclusive producer of Venetian crystal.
A history full of doubt and fragments
Unfortunately, little is known about the master glassblowers’ first centuries of activity, leaving a significant gap in the history of medieval Italian entrepreneurship. The Barovier family’s founding dates back to 1295, earning it the title of the sixth-oldest family business still in operation in the world.
The Barovier family is believed to have originated from Treviso or nearby areas, although various theories about French influences have not been dismissed. In the 13th century, mercenaries were found all over the place, and the Barovier family may have derived from the ancient province of Berry.
This part of history is fragmented, but what is certain is that during that period, the glassblower Antonio Barovier, known as the phiolarius, was making a name for himself in northern Italy…
The rise of the glassworks
The golden beginnings are neither cataloged nor widely known, so we are forced to rely on a few historical details. Besides Antonio, the first testimonies speak of his son Simone in 1310 and another glassblower named Antonio, who became famous in 1348 as the Phiolarius principalis. Over the centuries, dozens, and dozens of glassblowers from the historic Barovier dynasty succeeded one another, and up until the 16th century, there was an ancient period of greatest expansion and enrichment. During these years, the glassblowers’ interests broadened to include the production of enamel-painted glass, colored glass, and painted stained glass windows.
The crowning jewel remains the exclusivity in the production of Barovier crystal. In 1455, the Republic of Venice certified this exclusivity, which continues to this day. The uniqueness of this crystal lies in the total absence of lead and arsenic, which are instead present in most commercial crystals.
In 1878, there was a change in appearance, as the company was refounded by Benvenuto and Giuseppe Barovier under the name Artisti Barovier. In 1942, the merger with the glassworks of the Toso brothers was made official, assuming the title we know today: Barovier & Toso.
Italian craftsmanship is always a guarantee
Barovier & Toso certifies the authenticity and originality of each product, rigorously crafted in the Murano furnaces. The partìa, a jargon term used to indicate the cold mixing of sands and powders needed for the production of this type of glass, is prepared every afternoon. Venetian crystal has a very long processing time, starting with the preparation of the partìa, followed by cooking throughout the night, and then the master glassblower works and refines it the next day.
The Venetian crystal produced here is synonymous with quality, creativity, and passion—values that have always characterized Made in Italy. In an era dominated by standardization across many sectors, Barovier & Toso continues to express the excellence and uniqueness of artisanal production, keeping alive a cultural heritage that is a great source of pride for all of Italy.
