The photo you see is of a Waterford Crystal vase that we own. It is about 8.5 inches (~21cm) tall. I gave it to my wife filled with red roses as a “baby gift” when our first son was born (Cont below)

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(from above) over 20 years ago.   She didn’t notice the Waterford crystal vase right away because the roses were so beautiful and brightly colored, but she noticed it within the first ten minutes of it being in her hospital room by letting out a little scream of joy.

We both enjoy the beauty and majesty of Waterford crystal.  We are very fortunate to have a number of pieces and I’ll write a separate note about our similarly sized and gifted pitcher.  She is particularly fond of Waterford crystal because she is of Irish decent.  Both her mother and father were full blooded Irish, all of her great-great grand parents immigrated to the US from Ireland.

Waterford Crystal dates to 1783 when two brothers, George and William Penrose, started a glass company in the port town of Waterford, Ireland.  The original factory was on land immediately adjacent to the wharf.  They brought in a well know glass maker, John Hill, and hired another 50 glass makers.  These skilled artisans enabled them to start production quickly.  After many years of success they sold the factory to one of their apprentices in 1799 and the business continued to grow and flourish including the addition of a new factory.  The ever greedy government increased taxes on crystal and other luxuries such that the factory closed its doors in 1851.

The factory was re-opened, to the day of its closing, in 1951.  It is in production to this day with well over 3000 employees.  In addition to the various wine and water glasses used by people for formal occasions, they make a wide variety of other pieces.  The vase shown above and their current selection of vases are stunningly beautiful.  Waterford is not unlike fine jewelry in that it never goes out of style and increases in value.

A Waterford vase makes a beautiful addition to any household.  While there are many excellent crystal manufacturers throughout the world like Swarovski, Baccarat, Mikasa and many others, Waterford has been the most sought after for years.  A Waterford crystal vase would make a beautiful addition to any household.