After heating the end of his cane, the master glassmaker “picks” a mass of molten crystal (the parison) from the pot furnace. To shape the glass into a ball, he uses a wooden or metal tool, the mallet, while rotating the cane without stopping. With a brief breath, followed by the immediate plugging of the opening of the cane with his finger, he creates a bubble in the crystal. If he tilts the tool towards the ground, the crystal bubble extends by itself, under the effect of gravity. The action is repeated until the desired shape is obtained.