Experience is a major asset for master potters at the Lalique factory. They are in charge of shaping by hands the large crucibles used to cast the molten glass. They are made from refractory clay imported from the Gironde basin near Bordeaux. Once molded, the crucibles dry for a few months in a hot chamber. They are then smoothed and polished so that as few grains as possible mingle with the incandescent glass mass. The crucibles' lifespan in the ovens extends over a few weeks and must not exceed 25 batches.