The elegance and richness of this ewer demonstrate the high level of technical mastery achieved by its maker. Morel studied under his father, a Parisian lapidary (someone who cuts, polishes, and engraves hard stones), and with Adrien Vachette, a maker of gold boxes. In 1842 he went into partnership with Charles-Edmond Duponchel, which lasted until the late 1840s, at which time he established himself in London, remaining there until 1852, when he returned to Paris. Morel frequentlyfollowed the designs of others, and it has been suggested that in the case of this pitcher his well-known contemporary, Jules Dieterle (1811-1889), may have conceived the overall form. The female figure seems to have been based on a design by the sculptor Jules Klagmann (1810-1867).