By Angie Rodgers
Photos courtesy of the artist
French artist Mikael Hingant specializes in creating intricate paperweights inspired by nature, particularly floral designs, using a combination of flameworking and furnace techniques. After training as a glassblower and working at La Compagnie des Cristalleries de Saint Louis, he relocated to Reunion Island in 2010, where he opened the first glass studio and began crafting paperweights full-time in 2015. Hingant meticulously designs, assembles, and encases his creations, and often mixes his own custom color combinations, resulting in artistry admired by collectors worldwide.