Murano glass by Barovier&Toso
Elena Lazzarini
At the 64th edition of Milan Design Week, Murano Glass maker Barovier&Toso unveiled “2026: Chapter 1”. This project is the first concrete step in a strategic and creative renewal for the historic Murano brand.
BAROVIER&TOSO AND THE FUTURE OF MURANO GLASS
Firstly, Andrea Signoroni, the company’s first CEO, and Luca Nichetto, the Artistic Director, joined forces to bring together design language and visual identity into a single integrated vision. Together, “2026: Chapter 1” represents a turning point for the brand. Tradition and innovation came together in a single evolving process. As a result, it opened new aesthetic and cultural directions without losing what makes Barovier&Toso distinctive.
NICHETTO® conceived the exhibition path as a treasure chest: wings and plinths alternated, separating and connecting spaces simultaneously, creating a play of perspectives, reflections, and harmonies. In this way, this artistic journey is informed by the Barovier&Toso Murano glass heritage.
“I imagined this project as a silent dialogue between light and material.”
Luca Nichetto
The space opened with NICHETTO®’s new design, Etime: a cubic Murano glass born from the meeting of the square and the circle. Similarly, the Profilo lamp diffused a soft light through its discs in the window display. Rounding out the trio of NICHETTO®’s designs, the Aurora table lamp reinterprets the tradition of oil lighting through an integrated technology.
Subsequently, the exhibition continued with García Cumini’s Agave lamp, which emphasizes the collection’s vertical tension and material lightness. Olori, by Studio Lani, celebrated strength and femininity through a series of Murano glass vases that reinterpreted the layered collars of traditional African adornment in an hourglass form. With Kado, Keiji Ashizawa envisioned the vase as a small architecture inspired by ikebana. Emmanuel Babled’s Lithos vases explored Murano glass as a geological substance. In doing so, he integrated optical lenses that amplify the internal morphology, making each piece unique. Moreover, Claesson Koivisto Rune introduced a modular system of stackable vases called Podio.
Finally, the exhibition closed with the Coppa Barovier, a masterpiece of Murano glassmaking. To this day, craftspeople still produce it using the original techniques. In doing so, they preserve a tradition that spans more than five centuries.
“With 2026 Chapter 1, we are inaugurating an important phase of renewal for Barovier&Toso, in which tradition and innovation move forward together with intention and awareness.”
Andrea Signoroni
MURANO GLASS LIGHTS BY BAROVIER&TOSO
Profilo by NICHETTO®
The name Profilo refers to the outline the lamp draws, a contour that emerges from the overall composition. The structure consists of overlapping Murano glass discs, which create clear and recognizable silhouettes. As a result, Profilo’s elements reveal thickness, material depth, and an opaline spiral that runs across the surface, diffusing a soft and warm light.
Agave by García Cumini
The agave plant, a symbol of natural elegance and resilience, inspired García Cumini to create a collection of table and floor lamps. In doing so, the designer reinterpreted the plant’s slender profile and vertical tension, turning the leaf into a sculptural Murano glass form. Consequently, the rugiada technique creates a vibrant texture, while a subtle gradient effect introduces depth and visual movement.
Aurora by NICHETTO®
Aurora is a reinterpretation of the traditional oil lamp, turning it into a contemporary Murano glass object. A discreet light replaces oil and wick, preserving the intimacy of the ritual while allowing complete freedom of use. Meanwhile, the colored ribbed glass pairs with transparent glass diffusers. These lamps are crafted with a dense rigadin ritorto technique, brilliantly demonstrating the artistry at Barovier&Toso.
MURANO GLASS VASES BY BAROVIER&TOSO
Olori by Studio Lani
Olori means “Queen”, a title of authority and grace, translated here into a sculptural form. The collection draws inspiration from traditional Nigerian neck ornaments. Furthermore, the hourglass silhouette is the focal point of each Murano glass piece, while a sequence of overlapping pearls recalls Murano’s conterie.
Lithos by Emmanuel Babled
With Lithos, Emmanuel Babled transformed glass into a dense, layered surface reminiscent of a geological fragment. Within the incandescent mass, a reactive mineral powder generated bubbles that crystallized into an irregular surface, evoking rock formations. Every vase is shaped by the interaction of fire, chemical reactions, and artisanal skill.
Kado by Keiji Ashizawa
The name Kado brings together two meanings: 角 (corner) and 華道 (the art of flower arrangement). The collection explores the balance between form, line, and space. The project consists of three sets of Murano glass vases, each pairing a tall vase and a low vase. The tall vase uses the incamiciato technique, which gives a refined chromatic contrast between interior and exterior. In contrast, the low vase has a diffused and restrained presence.
Podio by Claesson Koivisto Rune
Podio is a family of Murano glass vases. Each piece consists of a container with a lid that guides the inclination of the flowers. In addition, the lid functions as a display surface that allows stackable compositions. Notably, the vases were blown using the corteccia technique, creating lenses and reflections with kaleidoscopic effects.
MURANO GLASS OBJECTS BY BAROVIER&TOSO
Etime by NICHETTO®
This meeting of square and circle expands Barovier&Toso’s portfolio into home accessories. The cubic volume evokes time as measurable, while the circular imprint introduces the idea of continuity. As a result, Etime works as a modular Murano glass element that fits naturally into different settings, keeping its expressive strength.
Coppa Barovier: a Murano glass heritage
The Coppa Barovier is one of the great masterpieces of Renaissance Murano glassmaking. It was originally conceived as a wedding cup. Moreover, it combines essential form with rich decorative storytelling painted in polychrome enamels and gold on deep blue glass. To this day, the cup continues to be produced using the original techniques. Thus, it preserves a craft tradition of centuries upheld by Barovier&Toso.
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emotional intelligence, she approaches culture as something to be felt as much as understood, moving fluidly between fashion, music, and the subtle codes that define identity across borders. At IRK, this instinct becomes editorial language, where curiosity is not surface-level but immersive, always searching for what sits beneath aesthetics.
With a background in e-commerce, Elena developed her understanding of digital strategy within a small, human-centered company, working closely alongside neurodivergent teams. The experience shaped her approach to communication and storytelling, grounding it in inclusivity, adaptability, and attention to nuance. These values inform her work at IRK, where content is not only created, but carefully considered in how it connects, resonates, and includes.
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