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Antique and Vintage Waterford Glassware

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In 1783, brothers George and William Penrose established Waterford Crystal in Waterford, Ireland. They did not know anything about glass manufacturing, but they did see economic opportunity—demand was high for plain and decorative flint glass, and the supply was low in England, thanks to debilitating glass excise duties that did not apply to Ireland.

The Penrose brothers hoped to created crystal “as fine a quality as any in Europe… in the ...

Waterford blossomed in the early part of the 19th century—King George III ordered Waterford Crystal for his vacation residence. Waterford flint glass had become famous for its distinctive shade of gray, a color caused by sand imported from the King’s Lynn region used in Waterford’s glass recipe.

The company produced a wide array of table and ornamental cut glass, including claret and water jugs, glassware from wine glasses to goblets, bowls, candlesticks, dishes, chandeliers, and, of course, their famous decanters. These decanters featured three rings around their necks, with a mushroom-shaped stopper. One of the most collectible Waterford pieces today is the so-called apprentice bowl. At the end of his Waterford apprenticeship, the former student would carve a bowl that featured every kind of cut found in the entire Waterford line.

After Gatchell died in 1825, Waterford’s growth began to slow. Waterford submitted a hugely successful entry to the 1851 Great Exhibition in London, but heavy British taxes on glass put the company out of business that same year.

In 1947, a small group of workers restarted Waterford as part of a renewed desire for Irish art driven by the independence movement. The new Waterford began with the old company’s designs and expanded from there. The perennially popular Lismore pattern was introduced in 1952, along with Alana, Carina, and Araglin, to name just a few.

In 1986, Waterford merged with Wedgwood, and the company has continued to enjoy a sterling reputation for quality. In fact, the world-famous Times Square New Year’s Eve ball has been decorated with Waterford Crystal triangles since the ball was redesigned in 2000.

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Recent News: Waterford Glass

Source: Google News

Headline
Kilkenny People, February 5th

In the violin competition, Adrienne King, Jenkinstown won the Waterford Glass Bowl for the best performance and the most promising player. In the piano competition, Sean Grace, Cuffesgrange won the under-16 piano solo and won a second trophy for the...Read more

Graham Linehan: 'Father Ted was a specific kind of magic'
Irish Post, January 31st

That would be like giving them to Waterford Glass, we just knew they wouldn't be capable of making a show like Ted.” The real story goes something like this. In the early 1990s, Linehan and his good friend Arthur Matthews, two mediocre music hacks from...Read more

Tipperary Crystal shines in China
Irish Times, January 29th

The business wants to establish a crystal manufacturing operation in the CHQ building in the IFSC, in Dublin, and has 160 former Waterford Glass workers waiting to go to work in China if a crystal factory is opened there. “They will work six weeks on,...Read more

Top prize for Tullamore school at Science Fair
Offaly Express, January 23rd

The judges presented the school with a lovely Waterford glass trophy. They were especially complimentary of the enthusiasm and knowledge shown by the students. The project focused on many different aspects of the science of bees and beekeeping...Read more

Former city council alderman and chancellor of Saor Ollscoil na hÉireann
Irish Times, January 13th

When it was announced that lord mayor Jim Mitchell was to visit New York, he said: “Well for God's sake, bring something more typically Dublin as a present than Waterford Glass. You would be better off [to] bring a cran of Dublin Bay herrings...Read more

Heritage hot spots History, nature, art, environment
Irish Times, January 13th

You can seen see Waterford glass, Venetian glass and brass chandeliers, and famous paintings and sculptures, including Anthony Van Dyck's portrait of Elizabeth Leigh, countess of Southampton, and a bust of Lord Chesterfield by Louis François Roubiliac...Read more

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