Profiles of the Glassmakers: Pietro Toso all'insegna di S. Giovanni (1854-1862) Vetreria Fratelli Toso (1862-1897) Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso (1902-1936) Vetreria Fratelli Toso S.a.s. (1936-1979) Fratelli Toso International (1979-1982) and Fratelli Toso (from 1979) Founding: Pietro Toso and his six sons Angelo, Carlo Francesco Nicolò, Ferdinando, Giovanni, Gregorio and Liberato--founded (1854) Pietro Toso all'insegna di S. Giovanni. The firm, better known for most of its life as Fratelli Toso, is the longest-lived of all the leading glassmakers of the Murano revival. Gregorio Toso served as the firm's initial Managing Director. Developmental Events: 1860 The firm sponsored glassblower Giuseppe Gaggio's execution of Angelo Serena's design for a massive chandelier. 1862 Pietro Toso died. The name of the firm began to appear in various records as Fabbrica Fratelli Toso, Fratelli fu Pietro Toso, Eredi Pietro Toso all'insegna del S. Giovanni, and finally Vetreria Fratelli Toso. 1864 The firm executed, for the Commune of Murano, Angelo Serena's design for the largest chandelier ever created on Murano to that time. The chandelier was subsequently displayed at the 1864 Murano Glass Exposition. 1897 Gregorio Toso died; his only brother then surviving, Ferdinando Toso, assumed his duties as Managing Director. 1902 Ferdinando Toso died and was succeeded by his son Lorenzo, who shared ownership of the firm with his brothers Vittorio, Arnoldo, Giuseppe Gianmaria and Giuseppe Stanislaus Isidoro. Their sister, who married Vittorio Zuffi, may also have inherited an ownership interest. The firm began trading under the name Antica Vetreria Fratelli Toso. 1927 The cousins Ermanno Toso and Michele Toso joined the firm. 1936 Lorenzo Toso retired as Managing Director. He was succeeded by Ermanno Toso and Michele Toso, who shared ownership with family members Alfio and Aldo Toso and Amleto and Armando Zuffi. Armando Zuffi's son Licio joined the firm. The firm reorganized as Vetreria Fratelli Toso S.a.s. 1946 Upon Michele Toso's death, Aldo Toso took his place as Co-Managing Director with Ermanno Toso. Sharing ownership with them were Alfio Toso and Amleto and Armando Zuffi. 1954 Michele Toso's son Arnoldo joined the firm. 1973 Upon the death of Ermanno Toso, Arnoldo Toso took his place as Managing Director with Aldo Toso. Sharing ownership with them were Massimo and Ugo Zuffi. 1979 The owners divided the firm in two: Fratelli Toso, headed by Arnoldo Toso; Fratelli Toso International, headed by Michele Toso (?) and Massimo and Ugo Zuffi. 1980 Fratelli Toso ceased glass production, but continued to operate a glassware store. 1981 Fratelli Toso International suspended operations and declared bankruptcy in the following year. 1987 Fratelli Toso began limited glass production again in the firm's original factory, which Arnoldo Toso had reacquired (1983). Master Glassblowers: 18__-1866 Giovanni Barovier 1854-1888 Giovanni Toso ____-____ Isodoro Barbon ____-____ Lorenzo Santi ____-____ Giovanni Fuga 1897-____ Vittorio Zuffi 1936-1950 Armando Zuffi 19__-1973 Licio Zuffi Giuseppe Finotello Alberto Moretti 19__-1981 Vittorio Ferro Artistic Directors: 1854-c. 1881 Carlo Francesco Nicolò Toso 1881-1924 Stefano Zanetti 1924-1973 Ermanno Toso 1973-__ Rosanna Toso Designers: Hans Stoltenberg-Lerche (1911-1920) Anna Åkerdahl (c. 1920) Guido Cadorin (1923) Vittorio Zecchin (1938) Pollio Perelda (1948-1964) Robert Willson (1959-1972) Giusto Toso (1959-1963) Renato Toso (1959-1963) Noti Massari (1964-1968)   © 2001 C. I. Gable