Rare Pair of “Medusa” Murano Glass Sconces by Ercole Barovier, 1940s

An extraordinary and museum-worthy pair of “Medusa” wall sconces designed by Ercole Barovier for Barovier & Toso, Murano, circa 1940. Among the most poetic and sculptural lighting designs created by the Venetian master, these exceptionally rare sconces perfectly embody the experimental language that made Ercole Barovier one of the greatest innovators in twentieth-century artistic glass.

The “Medusa” series belongs to Barovier’s remarkable period of research into organically sculpted glass, when traditional Murano techniques were pushed beyond decoration and transformed into true three-dimensional sculpture. The name itself evokes the fluid movement of marine organisms, reflected in the constantly changing silhouettes and flowing contours of the glass. Contemporary examples from the same series are documented in specialist literature dedicated to the work of the Barovier family and continue to be among the most sought-after productions of the period.

Each diffuser is entirely hand-blown in opalescent Murano glass with a delicate pale anise hue that reveals subtle iridescent reflections as the light changes. Rather than pursuing symmetry, the Murano master intentionally embraced movement and spontaneity: every fold, every protruding drop and every softly undulating edge was shaped freehand while the glass remained incandescent.

No two sconces are identical.

This individuality is precisely what makes them so extraordinary. One diffuser opens slightly wider, the other rises with a more vertical profile; the applied droplets differ in position and volume, while the irregular flame-like rim creates an ever-changing outline from every viewing angle. These subtle “imperfections” are not flaws but the unmistakable signature of authentic Murano craftsmanship—evidence of a manufacturing process that has almost entirely disappeared today and would be virtually impossible to reproduce with contemporary industrial techniques.

The thick opalescent glass softly diffuses the light while remaining translucent enough to reveal its remarkable sculptural depth. Tiny iridescent reflections emerge across the surface, enriching the glass with constantly shifting tones of pale blue, lavender and warm ivory. The effect is ethereal, almost aquatic, and changes throughout the day even when the sconces are unlit.

The brass supports retain a magnificent naturally aged patina, perfectly complementing the delicacy of the glass without competing for attention. Their restrained architectural geometry provides an elegant counterpoint to the expressive Murano forms above.

The glasses are preserved in excellent vintage condition, with no cracks or restorations and only the slight irregularities, tiny bubbles and asymmetries inherent to entirely hand-blown Murano production.

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 professionally rewired for European electrical standards before shipment.

An exceptionally rare opportunity to acquire one of the most sculptural and refined lighting models ever produced by Ercole Barovier—works that transcend functional lighting and belong equally to the worlds of collectible design, Venetian glass history and twentieth-century decorative art.