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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 most elegant style.” To accomplish that goal, they brought in Quaker glassmaker John Hill, who supervised Waterford’s 50 to 70 employees for about three years. When he left, Hill gave the company’s glass formula to a clerk named Jonathan Gatchell. After William Penrose left the company around the turn of the century, Gatchell took over Waterford, along with two local families, the Ramseys and the Barcrofts.
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 di...
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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Vintage Signed Waterford 5 Arm Avoca Lead Crystal Chandelier
Waterford Westhampton Double Old Fashion-set Of 8
Amazing Quality Diamond Pattern Cut Glass Wine Ewer Claret Jug Handled Decanter
Waterford Crystal Boat Footed Presentation Bowl - Made In Ireland
Waterford "clarendon Collection" Cobalt Whiskey / Brandy Snifters Pair
Set Of 10 Waterford Araglin Wine / Water Goblets
4 Waterford Crystal Kildare 8 Oz. Goblets New In Box Made In Ireland
Exquisite Waterford Crystal Vase - Us Senate - # 210-457-65 - Made In Ireland
Set 5 Waterford Crystal Lismore Old Fashioned Dbl On The Rocks Glasses 
Waterford Crystal Claret Glass Curraghmore 6 Glasses New
4 Waterford Crystal Lismore Straight 12 Oz Hiball Tall Beverage Tumblers New
Waterford Crystal Simply Pink Martinis
Waterford Crystal 5 Kildare Water Goblets Euc
8 Pristine Waterford Crystal Short Stem Colleen Champagne Tall Sherbet Giasses
Vintage Waterford Curraghmore Pattern Wine Water Glasses Goblets - 7.5" & 7"
2 Waterford Crystal Lismore Aqua Double Old Fashioned Glasses
Waterford Crystal Spirit Decanter 
Waterford Crystal Master Cutter Vase 13 1/8" Tall
Set 8 Fine Waterford Claret Wine Glasses In Tramore Pattern
8 Ea. Waterford Lismore Liqueur/cordial Glasses 
4 Waterford Crystal Lismore Traditions 12 Oz Old Fashioned Tumblers Box Lot Set 
Four Waterford Lismore Lead Crystal White Wine Glasses With Old Script Mark!
Waterford Crystal Millenium Toasting Flutes Complete Set (10 Flutes)-mib-$9.99 
4 Waterford Tumblers Lismore Pattern
Waterford Crystal Lismore Covered Butter Dish New In Box***wow!!!
Vintage Signed Waterford Lead Crystal 14" Alana Two Piece Hurricane Lamp Working
9pc Waterford Crystal Mixed Lot Candle Holder Vase Bowl Ring Holder
6 Waterford 5 7/8" Kildare White Wine Crystal Stem Glass Glasses-ex Cond
Set Of 4 Vintage Waterford Crystal "lismore" 5" High Flat Tumblers 10 Oz
Waterford Lismore 6" Candlesticks 1 Pair. Brand New!
Waterford Society "penrose" Bowl, 2nd Ltd Edition Collectors Piece Jim O'leary
Waterford Crystal Lismore 10 Inch Salad Bowl
Waterford Society 1996 Heirloom Pitcher 234/750 Signed By Roy Cunningham
Waterford Crystal Set Of 3 White Wine Glasses Lismore Stemware
Set Of 4 Vintage Waterford Crystal "lismore" Champagne Flutes
Exquisite Waterford Crystal Mantle Clock Elegant Beauty, Never Been Used
Superb X-large 19" Waterford Cut Crystal Alana 2 Pc. Hurricane Table Lamp Exclnt
Excellent Set Of 6 Waterford Crystal Lismore 12 Oz Flat Tumlers Glasses
4 Waterford Colleen Short Stem Claret Wine Stemmed Glasses
4 Waterford Crystal Colleen 10 Oz. Water Goblet Made In Ireland Original Box
New Waterford Crystal 9th Edition Dancing 12 Days Of Xmas Flute Limited Edition
1976 Waterford Crystal Kathleen Tumblers Glasses Set Of Six With Original Box
Pair Waterford Crystal Seahorse Candlesticks Candleholders Nib Stunning! Wow!!
Pair - Waterford Crystal Seahorse Candlesticks Candleholders Nib Beautiful!!
Signed Waterford Crystal Tumble-up Carafe Decanter 2 Pc "irish Lace"?
Two Waterford Lismore Crystal Double Old Fashioned Glasses With Old Script Mark!
"sheila" Waterford Crystal Glasses Sherry Or Cordials Set Of 15
Waterford Crystal, A Pair Of Lismore Brandy Balloon Glasses Model: 6223182620
Waterford Lismore 10oz Goblet - Set Of 4
Waterford Lismore Crystal Goblet Pair
5 Waterford Lismore Sherry Stems 5 1/8" Signed Vintage Estate Irish Cut Crystal
4 Waterford 9 Ounce Tumblers Lismore Nib!
Waterford Lismore 50th Anniversary Toasting Flutes - Gift From Waterford Ceo!
New In Box Waterford 6" Lismore Candlesticks 107633 Never Used
Waterford Alana 8-1/2" Vase
Waterford Crystal Lismore Crimson Hock Wine Pair~nwt No Reserve
4 Waterford Kilcash 6" Champagne Flute Stemmed Glasses
Waterford Crystal Lismore Sapphire Toasting Flute Pair~new~no Reserve~stunning~
Waterford Crystal Hibernia Pattern Biscuit Or Cookie Jar, Minty, No Reserve!
Waterford Crystal Brandy Glasses - Waterville Style, New In Original Packaging.
Recent News: Waterford Glass
Source: Google News
Meeting of former Waterford Crystal workers
Waterford Today, June 19th"Our members cannot understand why the Government wants to continue imposing more hardship on a group of workers who have contributed vast amounts of tax to the Exchequer since the foundation of Waterford Glass in 1950. The workers have ...Read more
Irish pensions reform 'inevitable' after Waterford Crystal ruling
IPE.com (registration), June 18th"And, in terms of their response to the Waterford Glass decision, there's an inevitability as to what they have to do." He also spoke of the need to postpone the looming deadline to submit funding proposals to the Pensions Board – due at the end of the...Read more
Irish Pensions: Burton refuses to rule out new raid on private pension funds
FinFacts Ireland, June 17thLast April, the European Court of Justice ruled against the Irish Government in a case concerning pension entitlements, that was brought by former workers of Waterford Glass and Burton was asked on Monday about the implications for the compensation of ...Read more
Sometimes less is more, Joan
Irish Independent, June 17th"Well the Waterford Glass [sic] case is a landmark judgment and the workers and applicants won their case fairly comprehensively in terms of the judgment handed down by the European Court. "It has now gone back to Irish court. My department and myself ...Read more
Did you know? John F Kennedy factfile
Irish Independent, June 14thGifts presented to President Kennedy during his trip to Ireland in June, 1963 included a Waterford glass bowl with engravings representing the 'Kennedy story', from the New Ross Harbour Commissioners, and a replica of the Great Mace of Galway, from the ...Read more
O'Brien can't be worse than O'Reilly
Village, June 2ndBut in the last four years when the value of his personal stake in Independent News and Media alone fell from just under €900m to a current €16m, and when his investment in Waterford Glass crashed into smithereens, the papers have been oddly mute about ...Read more