Favorite Waterford
Alana
Araglin
Ashling
Ballyshannon
Carina
Chelsea
Christmas Ornaments
Colleen (Short)
Colleen (Tall)
Comeragh
Curraghmore
Giftware
Kenmare
Kildare
Kylemore
Lismore (Short)
Lismore (Tall)
Maeve
Powerscourt
Rosslare
Sheila
Tramore
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The Waterford company was originally in business from 1783-1851. After World War Two, a group
of Irish glass enthusiats and businessmen decided to revive the glass company synonymous with
high quality Irish crystal.
This presented a problem, as there were no longer artisans capable of creating the quality
of crystal they were hoping for. They ended up having to import glass cutters and
equipment from Czechoslovakia. The glasscutters taught the locals the skills needed
to make fine cut crystal and thus by the late 1940's and old tradition was reborn.
The company had several problems in the early years because their cutters were so
inexperienced. In fact, in the beginning, they just made tumblers, nothing with
stems. They were also unable to make thin crystal or crystal without bubbles.
Fortunately for Waterford, tastes were changing and people wanted heavier crystal
patterns on their table. Waterford customers came to see the bubbles as a sign of
it's being hand made.
In 1951, as the cutters became more adept, the company introduced many of the patterns
Waterford is still famous for today including Sheila, Colleen and Lismore. Lismore,
the most popular Waterford pattern is named after the town Lismore, which is, of course,
in the County of Waterford. Sir Walter Raleigh once owned Lismore castle.
As Waterford grew in popularity in the United States, in the 1960's, some people
attributed that growth to President John Kennedy whose presidency seemed to create
a demand for all things Irish. In the early 1970's, proving that Waterford has no
party affiliation, Tricia Nixon chose a Waterford pattern for her wedding.
In 1986 Waterford acquired Wedgwood, creating an Irish-British behemoth capable of
taking over the world, or at least the world's tables. Waterford now also has it's
own fine china line. In 1991 Waterford began the Marquis line, offering Waterford
buyers a more modern, less expensive crystal line. They also make a variety of
crystal giftware, Christmas ornaments and lamps, not to mention the millennium
ball in Times Square for the midnight drop. They do not make a kitchen sink.
But who knows what could happen in the future.
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