What Is Waterford Crystal?
Since the 18th century, the Waterford Crystal Company has produced high-quality crystal items described by the company as "unequalled (in) quality and craftsmanship, (and) built on design inspiration and heritage." The company has not only created crystal pieces for personal use, but is also famous for creations such as sport trophies, awards, and even the New Year's Eve Ball in New York City's Times Square. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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In 1783, brothers William and George Penrose founded their crystal factory in the port city of Waterford, Ireland. They recruited a talented workforce, most notably John Hill of Stourbridge Glass in England. The company prospered, exporting crystal worldwide until 1851 when it was forced to close, according to the Company's history, "due to lack of capital and excessive taxation." Waterford Crystal's reputation lived on, however, and in 1947, the company was rebuilt in Waterford, only 1 1/2 miles from its original location.
Manufacturing Process
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Crystal is created by melting together silica sand, potash and lead, which gives the crystal its light-reflecting qualities. The molten glass is hand-blown in a wooden mold and slowly cooled in an annealing oven. The Waterford artisans cut the patterns using diamond-tipped, carborundum and sandstone wheels. Once a piece has passed the quality-inspection process, it receives the Waterhorse signature, "The Seahorse Badge," which comes from the city of Waterford coat of arms.
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The Waterford Crystal Cuts
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Waterford describes several distinctive cuts visible in its crystal patterns. The oval-shaped "olive cut" can be seen in the Colleen pattern. "Flat cuts," evident on the Grafton Street products, are most often cut into glass stems and decanter necks. The "Wedge cut" on the Lismore line, is created with a diamond-tipped wheel. The fan-shaped "Rosette" is composed of three or more cuts. "Fine Diamonds"--visible on Alana"crystal--shows off a "diamond-like appearance." Finally, "Blaze" presents a series of equal or unequal leaf cuts around an item.
Care
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Although crystal's lead content gives it added weight, it is not necessarily stronger than other glass, and must be washed and handled with care. Waterford advises washing each piece individually with mild soap and warm water. Waterford does not recommend cleaning its crystal pieces in a dishwasher.
Famous Pieces
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Waterford Crystal is proud of the numerous famous pieces it has created, including chandeliers in the Red Room of the White House and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. Other well-known work includes the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball, the 2010 People's Choice award trophy, numerous trophies for sports (including a Waterford Stanley Cup Trophy, a Waterford Crystal Super Bowl XL Trophy, The Volvo Ocean Race Trophy, The Players Championship and the World Tennis Championship) and even the jar that held former President Ronald Reagan's jelly beans in the Oval Office.
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