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Waterford
Crystal
From its beginnings in 1783, the legendary name of
Waterford Crystal has found its way into most people's
vocabulary. An extensive choice of crystal products
can now be bought worldwide. Countless homes have a
little bit of Ireland within them in the form of Waterford
Crystal vases, glasses, lighting and ornamental pieces.
The impressive rise of the company was not without its
complications though. In 1851, the company virtually
faced closure as a result of the financial climate of
the time. However, with the awakened interest in Irish
Independence during the  1940's
and 1950's, the time had come for the company's relaunch.
A group of artisans and apprentices were recruited and
by 1951, Waterford Crystal was back in business. Expansion
through the following four decades saw the move of the
company to larger premises and the arrival at their
1980's position as the greatest producer of crystal
in the world. Always a company to remain aware of public
opinion, in 1992 Waterford Crystal introduced new, more
informal lines of crystal to the range and products
from European countries were added.
The success of Waterford Crystal can also be measured
by the 250,000 visitors to the Waterford factory each
year. A tour of each stage of the crystal making process
enlightens visitors who had possibly not given much
thought to the origins of the vase on their mantelpiece!
In fact the creation of crystal is a complicated and
extremely skilled operation, which involves the initial
ingredients of silica sand, potash and letharge being
mixed in a furnace, raging at 1200 degrees Celsius.
The molten crystal is then removed and, with the primitive
tools of blocks and moulds, blowers work their magic
to begin the journey from molten crystal to masterpiece.
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© 1
2 Travel
Fahouragh, Castletownshend, Co. Cork
Tel +353 28 36008 |
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