Joe Rice Paperweight Appraisal

Joe Rice St. Clair Art Glass Floral Paperweight

This is a hand-blown glass paperweight or doorstop produced by Joe Rice at the St. Clair Glass Works in Elwood, Indiana, dated to 2004. The piece features a spherical dome of high-clarity lead glass encasing an internal floral motif. The design consists of five distinct multi-colored 'propped' flowers in shades of pastel yellow, sky blue, lime green, soft pink, and white. Each flower is realistically blooming with rounded petals and contains a large controlled air bubble, or 'tear drop,' at its center to simulate a glistening effect. These flowers appear to sprout from a deep cobalt blue base, which provides a dramatic contrast for the lighter floral elements. The craftsmanship is indicative of the St. Clair family tradition, utilizing the torch-work technique to shape individual petals before encasing them in the glass gather. The bottom is likely ground flat and polished, and usually bears the hand-etched signature 'Joe Rice' along with the year. The glass appears to be in excellent condition with no visible chips, flea bites, or internal fractures. The clarity of the glass and the precision of the controlled bubbles serve as key indicators of high-quality American studio glass from the early 21st century.