Big Rostrato Vase by Barovier & Toso

“Rostrato” vases are a peculiar 1930s design by Ercole Barovier, then owner and designer of the eponymous brand Barovier & Toso, based on the island of Murano. The brand is still active to these days, and still makes and sells “Rostrati” among other, proving that the design is truly timeless.

Made in clear “cristallo” glass, and characterized by the spikes (rostri, in italian) protruding from the surface, the pieces are clearly artisanal. Their beauty resides in the small differences between each spike, that give it an irregular, somehow “wabi-sabi” touch.

The vase, probably manufactured around the early 1960s, is preserved in very good conditions. Three spikes are slightly chipped, but the damage is so light it’s practically impossible to notice it by the naked eye. The only way to locate the chipped spikes is by touching them all one by one. The last pictures highlights one of the three damaged spikes in a red circle.