Definition: Formatting

Now it is time to detach the piece from the rod and attach it to an iron rod, called a "pontil", in order to finish shaping it. The glassmaker welds the pontil to the glass, opposite the rod. He then makes an incision with "cutting shears" at the chosen breaking point. Finally, he gives it a sharp tap to break it off.

Sitting on his bench, he finishes the piece by opening the neck, flaring it, trimming it and finishing the edges with trimming shears. To keep the glass malleable throughout the shaping process, he moves back and forth between the bench and the furnace, reheating it at regular intervals.

The shaping is complete. The master glassmaker detaches the glass from the pontil and takes it to the "annealing arch", where it remains for a day. When it comes out of the furnace, the piece is washed to restore its shine. The hot work is finished, and the cold work begins. But that's another story... See glass blowing, parison, mallochage, blowing.