Pair of Art Deco Amber Murano Glass Sconces by Aureliano Toso for Toso, 1940s

An exceptionally refined pair of Art Deco wall sconces designed by Aureliano Toso for Toso Venezia during the 1940s, embodying the remarkable craftsmanship that established Murano as the world’s foremost center for artistic glassmaking. Founded in 1938, Aureliano Toso quickly became one of the island’s most innovative glasshouses, collaborating with some of the century’s greatest designers while developing a distinctive vocabulary of sculptural blown glass.

Each sconce is crowned by a beautifully hand-blown Murano glass bowl in a warm amber-smoked tone, its generous rounded silhouette enriched by elegant vertical optic ribs. The true highlight is the extraordinary “marisa” decoration: the rim and lower collar are meticulously finished with individually hand-pinched molten glass, creating a continuous ribbon of sculptural waves that only the most skilled Murano masters could achieve. This labor-intensive technique gives each piece subtle variations, making every example unique.

The softly translucent amber glass emits an exceptionally warm and atmospheric light, while revealing remarkable depth and movement. Under illumination, the hand-worked surface comes alive with delicate reflections, emphasizing the thickness of the glass and the sculptural quality of the pinched rim. The restrained patinated brass wall supports provide the perfect architectural counterpoint, allowing the Murano glass to remain the undeniable protagonist.

The glasses are preserved in outstanding original condition, especially considering their age. They remain free from chips, cracks or repairs, with only the minor bubbles and slight irregularities inherent to hand-blown Murano production—beautiful evidence of their authentic artisanal origin.

The sconces have been professionally rewired for immediate use in the United States and are fitted with standard Edison E26 sockets. Upon request, they can also be rewired for European electrical standards before shipment.

An elegant and increasingly rare example of early post-war Venetian lighting, equally suited to Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, Contemporary or eclectic interiors.