PURPOSE: To produce a glass optical element from fused glass having excellent transferability with short forming time by obviating the occurrence of wrinkling which arises on the rear surface of glass gob in contact with a receiving die.

CONSTITUTION: This forming method is composed of a stage for fusing a glass blank with a glass raw material fusing section 2, a stage for preheating the receiving die 18 having a receiving surface 18a subjected to mirror finishing, a stage for preheating a forming die 34 having a forming surface 34a subjected to mirror finishing, a stage for supplying the fused glass onto the receiving surface 18a of the receiving die 18, a stage for revolving the receiving die 18 by rotation of a rotating arm 16 and flattening the glass supplied onto the receiving surface 18a while bringing the glass into tight contact with the receiving surface 18a by centrifugal force, a stage for press forming the glass free surface of the receiving surface 18a by the forming die 34 after stopping the revolution of the receiving die 18 and a stage for cooling the press formed glass to the glass transition point temp. or below.