The History of
Waterford Crystal

History of Waterford In 1783, businessmen George and William Penrose founded the Waterford Glass House in the busy port of Waterford, Ireland, and began to make crystal "as fine a quality as any in Europe ... in the most elegant style." The Penroses knew the secret of mingling minerals and glass to create crystal with beauty and mystery. When tapped, it sang sweetly. When touched, it felt warm and soft. Yet it possessed strength and durability and, most wonderful of all, the crystal shone with a romantic, silvery brilliance. Patience, skill, and artistry had forged a triumph.

In 1851, Waterford Crystal won several gold medals and universal acclaim at the Great Exhibition in London, but just as Waterford's art was reaching its full bloom, the financial climate turned grim. In the same year, the Waterford factory was forced to close, largely due to heavy excise duties.

Waterford Crystal's great tradition lay dormant for a hundred years. But when Irish independence rekindled a passion for the Irish arts in the 1940's and 1950's, a group of businessmen resolved to bring back to life the legacy that had made Waterford synonymous with the finest crystal in the world.

In 1947, they recruited a small group of artisans and, under the guidance of these masters, young apprentices learned the art of Waterford Crystal made famous by their skilled countrymen decades before. By 1951, Waterford Crystal was again launched on the world market. When, in the early 1960's, demand began to exceed supply, a larger glass works was built. This was later expanded until, by the 1980's, Waterford Crystal was the largest producer of hand-crafted crystal in the world.

In 1991, Waterford launched Marquis by Waterford Crystal, the first new brand in the company's 200-year history fine enough to carry the name Waterford Crystal. Today, Marquis by Waterford Crystal is the most successful new entry in the tabletop industry...and the #4 brand. Marquis offers innovative crystal patterns ranging from contemporary to traditional design, designed by Waterford and brought to life by the great crystal makers in Europe.

In 1992, after extensive consumer research, Waterford learned that many consumers desired Waterford Crystal in less formal designs. In a move to broaden Waterford's design and consumer appeal, some new products were successfully introduced from the finest crystal facilities in Europe-all manufactured to the same exacting standards of Waterford, Ireland.

Each piece of Waterford Crystal stands today as a testament to the traditions and standards of excellence that have survived with the Waterford name for more than 200 years... to be enjoyed and displayed now... to be cherished as an heirloom for generations to come.

The revolving seahorse on this page is the logo of Waterford Crystal. Below you can see a beautiful photo of Waterford. Can you spot Reginald's Tower?

 

 

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