Waterford Crystal

Saturday, February 1, 2014

The past month has been crazy busy with the move to Galway and Gary's calling as Branch President. We jumped from the frying pan right into the fire. If you know what I mean. We visited Waterford Crystal on January 6, a week before we left for Galway. Here is a historical overview.

The origins of the crystal production in Waterford date back to 1783 when George and William Penrose started their business. It produced extremely fine flint glass that became world-renowned. However, their company closed in 1851.

 In 1947, Czech immigrant Charles Bacik, established a glass works in the city, due to the superb reputation of the original glassware. Skilled crystal workers were not available in Ireland so continental Europeans were used.

By the way, most Waterford crystal is now produced outside the Republic of Ireland in countries such as Slovenia, Czech Republic and Germany. Since then it's had several owners.

In 1966 Waterford's chandeliers were installed in Westminster Abbey for the 900th anniversary of the its dedication…

Chandeliers hang in other notable buildings, such as Windsor Castle, and the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. Waterford Crystal made the 2,668 crystals for the famous New Year's Eve Ball that is dropped each year in New York City's Times Square. The ball is a 11,875 pound geodesic orb, 12 feet in diameter and is lit by 32,256 LEDs.

Sporting trophies are also crafted by Waterford…and they design trophies for the People's Choice Awards.

We took the Elders and Sisters along on our little adventure to factory. Before we began the tour we checked out the crystal showroom. Let me tell you, it was amazing!

Cinderella's Carriage was magnificent and an exceptional price at only 40,000 Euros 

Here we have a lofty eagle and below an angelic harp. I could have spent hours in the showroom. A major part of Waterford's business is the creation of special trophies for various sports and business awards around the world.

This old-fashioned chandelier was very ornate.

Waterford Crystal Grandfather Clock

Called the William Maddock Clock, this beautiful grandfather clock is made entirely of Waterford crystal. It stands in the House of Waterford Crystal visitor's center. There are 

48 panels and 250 decorative buttons, each individually handcrafted. The clock mechanism was made by William Maddock who was a prominent watch/clock maker in Waterford from 1766 to 1790.The seahorse on top is the company logo.

Inside the factory,

the guide showed us how trophies are created
by using wooden molds to cast the hot glass.

Gary is holding some type of helmet
made by the same process.
It is only in the beginning phase

    Here is a finished football helmet - 

Next we saw glass blowers at work.

They were producing bowls on that day.

Here is a diagram of the project. It is amazing to see the process from raw product to this intricately finished bowl.

                                         
                                                Worker on right is cooling the crystal bowl.





Here is a newly blown crystal bowl on left and the same bowl after it has been cut. Quite an amazing difference!

A technician marks each raw crystal piece for the expert craftsman that will do the cutting. 

It takes five years of training to work at Waterford Crystal and another four years to perfect your craft as a cutter. They have as many years in training as a doctor.

It is amazing how accurately they cut the glass around the top of the bowl so it is geometrically equal.

This size bowl is very heavy. It must be quite a strain
on the arms and shoulders to perform the cutting.

Cutting a crystal vase

                      

                                          

On the table you see a crystal egg marked for cutting and next to it, the finished cut egg.   
The cutting process causes the glass to become opaque. When the cutting is complete the piece is placed in an acid bath to bring it back to its original crystal brilliance.

                     

                                Old Glory!                  

9/11 Memorial - Honoring the firefighters who lost their lives!

Bowl view from the top

                   
We enjoyed our Waterford Crystal excursion!

                                 

In the last newsletter we had pictures of sections of the old Medieval Wall that once fortified the city of Waterford. A portion of that wall has been incorporated into the
J.C. Penney's Store in city center. This is a view of it.

                                                Well how did this picture get in here!

                            

This is the Condemi's gelato shop! Yummy! 

Now you know what we like!!!

Love Grandma and Grumpa