A mold having a pair of mold halves defining a mold cavity for forming a glass container. There is an inner shell of the mold and an outer shell and a gap therebetween through which cooling gas flows. Heat transfer elements on the inner shell extend laterally outwardly from the inner shell into the gap for contact by cooling gas flowing through the gap thereby to cool the inner shell. The inner shell is formed from a hard material having a working temperature substantially greater than the melting temperature of glass, a heat conductivity of less than about 15 W/m-deg K, and a capability of generating at temperatures in excess of about 500.degree. C. a protective oxide film strongly adhered to the inner shell surface.