Opéra, Barovier&Toso‘s newest lighting collection was inspired by the Opéra Garnier in Paris. While it shows a sleeker, more modern edge to the historic brand’s refined and romantic aesthetic, designer Philippe Nigro used the company’s century-old “rostrato” technique as the key design element. This complex technique was invented by Ercole Barovier in 1938 and consists of “freehand” shaping of Venetian Crystal to obtain a continuous series of multi-faceted prisms. A+A recently interviewed Nigro via email:

What are the products in the new collection, and their dimensions?
The sconce is seven inches long, 13 inches high, and four and a half inches wide. The chandelier is either 31 inches long, 16 to 59 inches high, and four and a half inched wide – or 43 inches wide, 16 to 59 inches high, and four and a half inches wide. And the table lamp seven inches deep and 16 and a half inches high.

The material palette?
For this collection, it’s Venetian crystal and brushed black nickel, brushed gold or brushed copper finishing.

The design intent?
The idea for Opèra was to use “rostrato” to create a collection of lighting down to its simplest form so that the historic technique would appear not only as a beautiful decorative feature but more as the main structure of the lighting.

Inspiration for the designs?
A Barovier&Toso chandelier is timeless illumination par excellence. Emotions have no expiration date, they are not influenced by fads and trends, and our aim is truly to keep them alive with an inimitable style.

Your target market?
A Barovier&Toso chandelier is timeless illumination par excellence: Emotions have no expiration date, they are not influenced by fads and trends, and our aim is truly to keep them alive with an inimitable style. The key is meeting the requirements of the buyer. Clients are now more inclined to look for unique pieces and high quality experiences. There is also a return to simplicity, to the truth of things, to essentiality. There is a search for history and tradition. In the quest for rarefied craftsmanship, connoisseurs are now turning their gaze to Italy, where niche heritage brands are refining and
expanding their offerings and collaborating with hip contemporary designers. After visiting our furnaces our customers go home knowing they have found the quality product they are looking for. And they are very happy that everything we do is not just made in Italy but in Murano, where it has always been made for more than 700 years.”

Pricing?
The sconce: $6,300
The chandelier: $13,300-22,600
The table lamp: $5,690

For more, go https://www.barovier.com/en.

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