{"id":3005,"date":"2018-04-09T11:20:06","date_gmt":"2018-04-09T17:20:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/?p=3005"},"modified":"2020-03-17T09:30:24","modified_gmt":"2020-03-17T15:30:24","slug":"waterford-crystal-complete-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/estatesales.org\/thegoods\/waterford-crystal-complete-guide","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Waterford Crystal"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Waterford company makes a variety of crystal items for the home.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crystal stemware was a classic wedding gift for many decades and this tradition still stands when it comes to the best, timeless brands of crystal. Waterford crystal is one of those brands.<\/p>\n

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Wine glasses and other stemware are a type of Waterford crystal item that can be found in many homes.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Whether you’re seeking a replacement for your wedding crystal collection, or simply like the vintage look of crystal items in your home and on your dining table, Waterford crystal can make a wonderful addition to your antique collection. Waterford crystal<\/a> is often an item people sell at estate sales and many sellers have no idea what their Waterford is worth. If you are looking to sell your Waterford, or purchase some at your next estate sale<\/a>, read on to learn all about this long-standing tradition in crystal glassware.<\/p>\n

What is Waterford Crystal?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Wait a second. Let\u2019s back it up a little and start with this question:<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Crystal?<\/b><\/h2>\n
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A Waterford crystal record player on display in the House of Waterford Crystal in Ireland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Crystal is a type of glass, specifically glass made with lead. Most crystals have a combination of silica, soda and lead-oxide. Lead crystal is very strong and often used in wine glasses and decorative ornaments.<\/span><\/p>\n

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In addition to their extensive lines of stemware, Waterford makes an array of glass ornaments and decorative items.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Wait a second… isn’t lead dangerous?<\/h2>\n

In the 90s, there was a health scare as the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning about consuming your food out of lead crystal. Even the Waterford website discourages customers from storing liquids and foods in the crystal, which would give the lead more time to leach from the crystal into the food. Ultimately, the answer is no-lead crystal is no more of a risk to your health than your average diet. The Environmental Protection Agency says it is safe for drinking water to carry 15 micrograms of lead per liter, which is far more than one will consume from drinking wine out of a crystal glass for a few hours. That said, those beautiful Waterford wine decanters are for show-not for actual storage.<\/p>\n

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A Waterford crystal wine decanter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The standards for classifying a glass as \u201ccrystal\u201d vary across the world. In the US, any glass with a lead monoxide content of one percent or more qualifies as crystal, while in Europe, crystal has to have between 10 and 30 percent of lead monoxide. The increased lead content means that crystal takes longer to cool off than glass, which allows glassblowers more time to carve the intricate patterns often seen on crystal items.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Crystal has a higher lead content than regular glass, which is part of why it sparkles in the light.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The lead content of crystal changes many of its qualities. When compared to traditional glass, it is often thinner, more clear, and heavier. The higher lead content also causes crystal to refract light in a different way than glass, which creates that well-loved sparkle. Crystal even sounds different: when you clink together two crystal glasses, you’ll hear a high-pitched, tinny sound, much different from the deep thud one hears when glasses (like beer mugs) are clinked.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now that we have that settled, let\u2019s revisit our original question:<\/span><\/p>\n

What is Waterford Crystal?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Waterford has become a casual, household name for very fine, luxury crystal. Waterford Crystal is an Ireland-based crystal manufacturer in the town of\u2014you guessed it\u2014Waterford, Ireland.<\/span><\/p>\n

The History of Waterford<\/b><\/p>\n

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The town of Waterford circa 1895.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The original Waterford company was first opened in 1783 by William and George Penrose. The brothers, neither of whom had a background in glass production, produced fine flint glass, a very popular decorative glass in England at the time. England also had a very high import tax for glass at the time\u2014a tax that didn\u2019t apply to Ireland. So, by meeting England’s large demand for this decorative glass and also escaping the import taxes, there was a lot of money to be made. The Penrose brothers were opportunist businessmen.<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lismore
The Lismore pattern, seen here on a tumbler, was one of the earliest–and ultimately the most popular–patterns produced by Waterford.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After 70 years of building a reputation for the finest and clearest glass, including a nod from King George III who had his vacation home outfitted with Waterford crystal, the original Waterford factory was closed in 1853 because of lack of funds. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Waterford style was picked up again in Ireland in 1947 by two Czech immigrants: Kael Bacik and Miroslav Havel. Havel studied products of the original Waterford company that were on display in the National Museum of Ireland. From the cutting designs created by the original Waterford brothers, Havel created Lismore, a crystal pattern that would eventually be regarded as the best-selling and finest crystal pattern worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n

Waterford Crystal Patterns<\/b><\/h2>\n
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Waterford chandeliers are widely regarded as a marker of luxury.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Waterford has a long history as a company and, as a result, a long list of different crystal items that the company has produced. This includes glassware like wine glasses, goblets and champagne flutes, tableware like bowls, plates and trays, lighting fixtures like chandeliers and home decor like ornaments, clocks and frames.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Waterford
A Waterford crystal clock carved in the Lismore pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A Waterford crystal vase etched with a delicate bird design, on display at the House of Waterford Crystal in Ireland.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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Waterford crystal ornaments are a popular collector’s item for many crystal lovers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Not only does the company create a variety of different vessels and decorations, but each item is often carved in multiple patterns. Currently, there are 100 patterns in production in addition to several that have been archived. The Waterford crystal world is large, to say the least, but here are some of the company\u2019s most popular patterns.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lismore<\/b><\/p>\n

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A bud vase in the Lismore pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Lismore pattern is rich with history, not only in the sense of the Waterford company but also in the sense that this pattern has been handed down for generations in many families. It is the oldest of the Waterford patterns still in production.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lismore
The Lismore Castle in Waterford County, which inspired the Lismore crystal pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It\u2019s said that Havel\u2019s inspiration for the crystal pattern was found on a castle in the Irish town of Lismore. The ancient structure is balanced precariously atop a cliff beside a river. The wedges and diamonds in the Lismore pattern echo the towers and windows of the castle.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Crystal
A beer mug in the Lismore pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lismore
Several wine glasses in the Lismore pattern, complete with Seahorse sticker (more on that below).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Lismore Diamond<\/b><\/p>\n

Waterford updated its most popular pattern in 2012. The pattern\u2019s name\u2014Lismore Diamond\u2014is a nod to the 60-year history of the original Lismore pattern, which was celebrating its \u201cDiamond Jubilee\u201d in the year 2012. A series of ring and upright cuts result in a diamond pattern etched on the glass.<\/span><\/p>\n

Colleen<\/b><\/p>\n

\"Colleen-patterned
In this image of a Colleen-patterned sherry glass, you can really see the signature oval shape that marks all Colleen items.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Another of Waterford\u2019s most popular patterns is the Colleen. A combination of oval and diamond cuts, the Colleen is a very advanced and intricate design and often one of the last to be mastered by Waterford crystal glass workers. Colleen is not only a woman\u2019s name, but also translates to \u201cyoung lass\u201d in Gaelic, a reference to the beauty of both person and crystal.<\/span><\/p>\n

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The Colleen pattern is a ring of ovals set atop a forest of diamond cuts.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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A Waterford sherry glass in the Colleen pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Seahorse<\/b><\/p>\n

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A Waterford crystal goblet in the Seahorse pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Perhaps one of Waterford\u2019s most timeless and iconic cuts, Waterford\u2019s Seahorse pattern echoes the curves of the sea creature\u2019s tail and the ridges along its back. A dynamic and embellished cut, the Seahorse pattern is an homage to the Waterford city crest, which features a seahorse. A seahorse is also the symbol for the Waterford crystal company and for many years, Waterford crystal was identified by the green-and-gold seahorse sticker that adorned its products. This sticker still appears on some modern items, but it was the primary method of marking Waterford before 1950, when the stickers were largely replaced by the “Waterford” etch mark.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Waterford
The traditional Waterford seahorse sticker, an early marker of Waterford’s brand. Seen here on a Nocturne perfume bottle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Alana and Alana Essence<\/b><\/p>\n

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A wine goblet in the Alana pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Like the Colleen pattern, the Alana pattern is also named after a Gaelic term of endearment. This sleek, simple pattern features a clear diamond pattern achieved with a criss-cross cutting. The original Alana pattern was first introduced by the company in 1952 and has since been discontinued. <\/span><\/p>\n

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Two Waterford pitchers in the Alana pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Alana Essence, a similar pattern meant to appear more modern than the original Alana, was introduced in 2009.<\/span><\/p>\n

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A tumbler in the Alana pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ashling<\/b><\/p>\n

A Gaelic term meaning “dream of beauty,” Ashling is a common girl’s name in Ireland like many of the other Waterford crystal designs. Ashling was first produced in 1968.<\/p>\n

Aurora<\/b><\/p>\n

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The Aurora pattern is identified by the long, slender cuts that run vertically on often-oversized stemware. The glasses and goblets in this design are generally very large and have a long, pulled stem. The Waterford Company began production of this pattern in 2004 and discontinued it in 2012, so it can only be found through replacement companies now. <\/span><\/p>\n

Leana<\/b><\/p>\n

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A Waterford crystal goblet in the Leana pattern.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Leana pattern is a series of overlapping bursts cut in to the crystal that make for a very dynamic and sparkling piece of crystal. A later pattern, the Leana was introduced in 1995 and has since been discontinued.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Identify Waterford Crystal<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Even if you are confident that a crystal item is carved in a Waterford pattern, that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s a true Waterford product. Many imitators have copied the very popular Waterford patterns. The expansive array of Waterford items (and knock-offs) on the market would make it nearly impossible to identify true Waterford crystal if not for one important quality shared by all of the company\u2019s products: a Waterford crystal marking. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Example
Almost all true Waterford crystal items will have a brocade etching of the name, as pictured above.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cEvery piece of Waterford crystal will say \u2018Waterford,\u2019\u201d says Michelle Nestel, owner of Irish Crystal Company<\/a>. \u201cThe marking is in a brocade etching on the bottom of the piece or between the cuttings of the bottom or the side. You have to find that stamp to know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Alas, it is possible that an item without a marking could potentially be a true Waterford. In some of the oldest Waterford glassware from the Penrose brothers era, the marking has worn away. More modern Waterford items (post 1990) include the name Waterford and a seahorse design etched into the crystal. But there are some additional things to look for when trying to assure yourself that an item is Waterford. For one, a seam is a bad sign, says Nestel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA seam in the crystal means it is a machine-made piece and hasn\u2019t been hand blown,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

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True Waterford is blown glass, so there will never be seams in the crystal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

But, as with many antiques and craft items, Nestel advises shoppers not to buy something just because of the brand name. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m big on buying it because you like it,\u201d she says. \u201cDon\u2019t buy it because it\u2019s Waterford.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

That said, Waterford is often well-liked because of the company’s history of high quality products. If you are looking for a true Waterford item, use the above identification tips when you go shopping at the next estate sale near you<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Thank you to the following individuals and businesses who shared their images of Waterford crystal for this blog post:\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n