Object of the Day: A Paperweight by Zellique Art Glass

Since 1971, Joseph Morel has been creating masterpieces in glass. Originally planning on a career in ceramics, Morel took a course in glassblowing as a favor to a professor and became enchanted by the stunning artistic possibilities of the medium. After working at Orient and Flume, Morel opened his own studio in Benicia California—Zellique Art Glass.


This intriguing paperweight by Joseph Morel is an explosion of depth and color. From the jewel-like crystals of its base to the sharply rendered vines and crisp blue flower, this piece is alive with excitement. The vine and blue flower motif represents much of Morel’s work as he used variations on the theme in a variety of works ranging from lamps to vases.

Morel take a painterly approach to his glassblowing—incorporating a dramatic sense of depth and use of color which gives his pieces a brilliant natural quality atop a contrasting abstract background. His masterful control of his medium makes Joseph Morel one of the greats in the art of glassblowing.