Waterford Glass

The original makers of Waterford crystal set up shop in the Irish city of that name in the late 1700s, and their product became synonymous with fine Irish cut and engraved glass. Early Waterford is characterized by deep cuts and thick glass, but lacked the perfectly clear color, which was mastered about 1830. In 1851, though still popular, the company was forced to close down due to to heavy British taxation and tariffs. Nearly 100 years later, the company reopened to produce high quality lead-crystal glass in traditional patterns. Waterford Crystal made a comeback, and is still going strong today.