pontils

Pontil, plural pontils, is a term in glassmaking referring to a metal rod, typically iron, used in the process of hand-blown glass. The pontil rod is attached to the piece during shaping, allowing the glassworker to hold, gather, and manipulate the molten glass without direct contact with the hot surface.

After the piece reaches its final form and has begun to cool, the pontil is detached, leaving a scar on the base known as a pontil mark. The scar can vary in size, texture, and visibility depending on the technique and period; older hand-blown pieces often show a pronounced pontil scar, while some later items show a ground or polished base.

The term derives from the Italian pontile, meaning a pole or post, reflecting the rod’s role in the process. In the study of glass objects, pontil marks help distinguish hand-blown glass from later machine-made pieces and can provide clues about dating, workshop practice, and provenance.

Related concepts include the punt or punted base, and the broader practices of glassblowing and cold-working. While modern mass-produced glass generally lacks pontil marks, authentic historical and collectible glass from many eras may bear visible pontils or scars that identify the piece as hand-made.