Waterford Crystal Glass
from the
Glass Encyclopedia
Waterford Crystal Glass: A short explanationThere was a glasshouse in Waterford, Ireland, advertising flint glass and green glass in the Dublin Journal as early as 1729. It lasted only a few years until the owner, John Hood, died about 1737, and for the next fifty years, through some very troubled times in Ireland, the glass industry struggled. It was not until 1783 that George and Henry Penrose set up another glass house in Waterford and brought a Stourbridge glass master, John Hill, to manage it.
above: Waterford cut
crystal bowl made 1999
by Maurice Whittle
Master Wedge Cutter
for Waterford Glass.
In 1951 a new glassworks was built in the town and named Waterford Glass Ltd. This company rapidly established a reputation for high quality cut crystal, which it exported around the world. The modern plant welcomes visitors its large restaurant and glass cutting and glass making displays make this a very popular venue for tourists. Waterford became part of Waterford-Wedgwood plc in 1986 and this merged company continues to play a dominant role in the Irish glass industry and the market for cut crystal glass world-wide. The picture at the top of this page is a very large heavy cut crystal trophy in the shape of a bowl, being held up proudly by the cutter who was decorating it.
