The glassblower always starts by “picking” (or plucking) a mass of molten glass from the pot furnace with his hollow cane. The glass is shaped and then a bubble is created with a short blast, plugging the opening with his finger to prevent the hot air from flowing back. To obtain the desired volume, he then blows continuously. The cooled bubble is separated from the rod by a gentle shock. As a specialist in glass and crystal, the glassblower masters very advanced techniques. This profession is a physically demanding one: in addition to the weight of the equipment such as the steel rods, the glassblower is exposed to very high temperatures on a daily basis.