The Toso Borella

Riccardo created his first glass piece at age 7, inspired by his father Marco, who introduced him to the arts and music. He formally entered the family art around age 18, beginning a long apprenticeship with his father, who revealed to him all the secrets of the trade. Father and son began working professionally together in 2023 when Riccardo opened his own company, “L’Arte dei Toso Borella.” Under Marco’s guidance, Riccardo has created numerous pieces based on art history. A significant project was a commission of 100 plates from the Hyakunin Isshu, which he completed for his father.

It was a self-taught teenager, Marco Toso Borella, towards the end of the 70s, who rediscovered and recovered the artistic tradition of his ancestors, left aside after the Second World War, and raised it to a higher level of true pictorial art.

The subjects of his creations are primarily metaphysical, rich in symbolism drawn from classical mythology. Contemporary narratives are conveyed through ancient techniques. Today he is considered the greatest international exponent of the ancient artistic technique that has belonged to his family for six generations and for which he is also cited in the publication Artists Techniques and Materials published in 2006 by The J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the only living artist in the volume, alongside artists of the caliber of Leonardo Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Giotto.

It was Vittorio (1878–1915) who worthily followed in his father’s footsteps., becoming an acclaimed creator of Art Nouveau-style vases and glasses. He signed his works with the initials V. T. B. or V.T.Borella (Glass of the Bell Tower; Portrait of Giosuè Carducci).

The fame of the Toso Borella family led to caricatures (caricature from the magazine “Sior Tonin Bonagrazia”), articles and portraits in newspapers of the time which also featured several advertisements for the company “Vittorio Toso Borella” (advertising of V.T.B. Company).

Towards the end of the 19th century, after a period of decline under Napoleonic and Austrian rule, Murano glass art experienced a revival. Various Murano masters, such as Giovanni Albertini, Leopoldo Bearzotti, and Antonio Tosi, turned their attention to the newly rediscovered enamel decoration on glass. Among them, Francesco Toso Borella holds a prominent place.

A self-taught artist and former carpenter, Francesco founded the first glass painting and gilding studio in Murano. In 1873, he donated a splendid enamel-adorned plate to the Museo Vetrario (Glass Museum). Starting in 1888, he received numerous awards and international recognition (several gold medals and a bronze medal, which he refused). He created some of the most beautiful, decorated glassware of his time on the island. Among his notable works are some reddish-purple goblets decorated with enamels and gilded graffiti; two of these are still preserved at the Museo Vetrario in Murano (Murano Glass Museum). They are signed in the distinctive Toso Borella manner: with the initials F(rancesco). T(oso). B(orella).

Francesco’s elder brother became famous worldwide for crafting magnificent Venetian mirrors. As a testament to his skill, he received several diplomas at international exhibitions.