Disclosed is a method and apparatus for drawing an elongated glass article such as a fiber optic device. The article is drawn upwardly from a source through the surface of a quantity of molten metal having a vertical temperature gradient. The source can be an elongated solid glass preform that is vertically positioned within the molten metal such that the temperature of that portion of the molten metal adjacent the upper end region is sufficiently high to heat that region to drawing temperature. The upper end region is pulled to form a tapered root, continued pulling resulting in the formation of an elongated article from the small diameter root end. The relative position of the root is maintained with respect to the surface of the molten metal during the drawing operation. Alternatively, the glass can be drawn from an orifice located within the molten metal.The apparatus includes container means for supporting the molten metal, and external or internal means for heating and/or cooling portions of the molten metal. The container can also be provided with baffle means for dividing the container into a plurality of chambers.