Waterford (35)Jo Sampson (2)John Rocha (1) Table Lamps (17)Accent Lamps (9)Lamps (7)Hurricane Lamps (1)Desk Lamps (1)More ...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 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. chandelier fontana arte prezzoThe new Waterford began with the old company’s designs and expanded from there. chandelier taman seputehThe perennially popular Lismore pattern was introduced in 1952, along with Alana, Carina, and Araglin, to name just a few.chandelier giga 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. Pattern Glass SchoolIf you need schooling on Victorian-era pressed glass tableware aka EAPG (Early American Pattern Glass) aka Pattern …

[read review or visit site]Just the name Waterford Crystal makes one think of luxurious settings. The Irish-based company has no equal when it comes to glassware, but finding a genuine piece of Waterford crystal is not always an easy task. A listing for a stray glass on eBay from a seller who is unsure of its provenance may turn out as a great deal for a buyer if she or he can identify it as the real thing by looking for the company's mark and examining both the pattern and weight of the glass. All man-made crystal is a type of glass, but not all glass is crystal. This is a key distinction when it comes to identifying authentic Waterford Crystal because it feels different from typical glassware. Glass typically has a mix of silica, soda, and limestone, and these materials allow glass blowers to create very thin and lightweight glass pieces. However, Waterford uses lead crystal in its design, a mix of silica, potash, and red lead. Lead crystal feels far heavier than normal glass due to the lead content.

In fact, if one were to examine a piece of Waterford Crystal beside a normal piece of glass, the differences become apparent. The Waterford glass is thicker, so thick that it takes a team of four to seven glassblowers to mold it into shape. Because of its thickness and the fine lines of its sharp cuts, Waterford Crystal literally sparkles since its crystalline structure does not interfere with light transparency the way normal glass does. Determining if a piece is lead crystal as opposed to normal glass is the first step towards identifying Waterford Crystal. Waterford Crystal opened its doors in 1783 and since that time, has gone through numerous marking techniques. It is sometimes difficult for owners to find the markings etched into the crystal using acid. The easiest way is for the owner to hold the glass up to a bright light and turn it slowly until the etching appears in a brilliant sparkle of light. Pre-1950 for regular glassware. After 1950 for limited sets. The piece may or may not also contain an acid-etched mark

Foot of item for glassware Within crystal cuts for chandeliers, lights, and vases Seahorse etching with Waterford name on foot of item In some cases, however, the lack of a mark does not mean that the glass is not a genuine Waterford wine goblet or crystal vase. In the case of very old items, the mark sometimes wears away while the old green and gold seahorse sticker common on older pieces easily gets lost. Some pieces may have an artist signature on the base of the design. This is not a standard practice at Waterford, and if the mark exists at all, it will be on the base of the design beside the Waterford mark. The artist name is usually very small and even more difficult to make out than the Waterford mark. The third step to identifying a piece of Waterford Crystal is for owners to find out its pattern. This is easier said than done because Waterford introduced dozens of patterns over the years and even many crystal glass experts resort to using Waterford Crystal pattern books for an exact determination.

The most popular pattern by far is the Waterford Lismore, designed to resemble the facade of Lismore Castle. Other popular patterns include Kathleen, Colleen, and Alana. Unfortunately, many imitators of the Waterford style deliberately copy the most popular patterns. At first glance, the patterns may look alike, but comparing an imitation wine glass, for example, against a true Waterford set of wine glasses is the best way to see the differences, according to crystal collectors. The Waterford brand is known for its fine, deep cuts and exquisite detail. In some cases, buyers may need to consult an expert when it comes to determining a pattern's authenticity. When genuine Waterford Crystal appears on eBay's listings, the seller usually takes special care so that the buyer knows it is an authentic piece. Whether it is a brand new set or a pre-owned Waterford piece, the seller often tries to photograph the mark or the original Waterford packaging. In some cases, it is impossible for buyers to identify a piece online, but many buyers take the risk on a great deal for an unidentified piece of glassware in the hope that closer inspection reveals its true nature.