using a steel mold to blow glass into the right shape

using a wooden cup to shape the glass ball

This is a hot process, they melt the glass slug into the kiln, and then very gracefully maneuver it around, blowing into the open end and swirling the glass so it expands properly. THey do this inside a mold to create the right shape, but they have to keep the glass rotating constantly so it doesn't sag or bulge.

The cups/shapers they use are wood, soaked in water. You can smell the burnt-wood smell of them over the top of the hot-glass smell. I can't imagine working every day over molten glass -- they do have fans going all the time, but it's HOT.

the shaped vase, still spinning to keep it from sagging

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