pontil

Pontil is a term used in glassmaking to describe a metal rod that is attached to a piece of hot glass during the shaping process. The pontil rod allows the glassblower to hold, rotate, and manipulate the object as it is inflated and formed, especially at the base or other areas that require a stable support during finishing. The rod is typically heated along with the glass and remains attached until the piece reaches its final form.

When the piece is completed, it is detached from the blowpipe or punty, and the pontil rod is removed. The point of attachment on the finished object often leaves a visible mark or scar known as the pontil scar or pontil mark. The presence or absence of a pontil scar is a common indicator used by collectors and conservators to assess age, method, and provenance of hand-blown glass.

There are variations in how pontils are used and removed. In hard-pontil work, a solid pontil rod is attached and later broken away, typically leaving a pronounced scar. In soft-pontil techniques, a softer or hollow attachment can produce a less conspicuous base. In some traditions, a separate rod called a punty is used to support the piece during finishing, with the pontil term sometimes applied to the overall method as well as to the rod.

Historically, pontil-based finishing was common in European and American hand-blown glass from the 17th through the 19th centuries and remains significant in art glass today. The presence of a pontil scar is often valued for its demonstration of traditional workmanship and period style.