bullseye

A bullseye is a circular mark or slight depression left on a finished piece of glassware where it was attached to the punty, a solid iron rod used to hold the work during shaping and finishing. When the glassmaker completes the piece, the punty must be detached, leaving behind a visible ring or raised bump at the point of contact. On blown glass, this mark typically appears on the base or rim of the object.

The size and prominence of the bullseye depend on how long the punty was held against the glass and at what temperature the separation occurred. A cold separation leaves a ragged mark; a hot one may leave a smooth scar. Some glassmakers deliberately polish or grind the bullseye away before annealing, but this is time-consuming. On utilitarian ware and production glass, bullseyes are left as-made and considered acceptable.

Different glassmaking traditions handle the bullseye differently. In tableware production, especially pressed glass, the punty scar is often minimized through tooling or placement on the underside where it won't be noticed. In decorative blown glass and scientific glassware, the bullseye may be left visible as evidence of hand work. Paperweights and ornaments sometimes feature the bullseye as a design element.

The term applies specifically to the attachment mark itself, not to the punty rod or the process of punty work. Historic glassware collectors use bullseye visibility and character to assess period, technique, and whether a piece is hand-blown or molded. A well-executed bullseye on a symmetrical base is often a sign of skilled glasswork.