What is Waterford Crystal?
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2012}} [[File:Waterford Crystal Vase (geograph 3748920).jpg|thumb|Engraved crystal vase]] '''Waterford Crystal''' is a company which makes [[lead glass|crystal]] glass in the city of [[Waterford]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. The brand is owned by the Fiskars Group Ltd. The company was started in 1947 in Waterford. In January 2009, the main Waterford Crystal base was closed due to the lack of funds of Waterford Wedgwood PLC. In June 2010, Waterford Crystal relocated to The Mall in Waterford city centre and the business restarted. This new location is now home to a [[factory]] that melts over 750 tons of crystal a year, although most Waterford Crystal is now produced outside Ireland. This new facility offers visitors the opportunity to take guided tours of the factory and also offers a [[retail]] store, showcasing the world's largest collection of Waterford Crystal. ==History== [[File:Britannica Glass Oval Cut-Glass Waterford Bowl.png|thumb|Cut-glass bowl from Waterford, 18th century]] [[File:Waterford Crystal glass blower 1.jpg|thumb|Glass blower at Waterford glass factory]] [[File:Glass cutter at waterford crystal.JPG|thumb|A workman at Waterford Crystal glass cutting]] ===Early crystal production=== The first crystal glass production in Waterford dates back to 1783<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.bhandl.co.uk/collections/penrose|title=The Penrose Collection|work=Bearnes Hampton & Littlewood|access-date=14 January 2014|archive-date=16 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140116093233/http://www.bhandl.co.uk/collections/penrose|url-status=dead}}</ref> when George Penrose and his nephew William Penrose started their business. It produced very fine flint glass that became world famous. Their Waterford company closed in 1851, and re-opened 100 years later.<ref>{{cite news|last=Werdigier |first=Julia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/06/business/worldbusiness/06plate.html?hp |title=Waterford, the Crystal Maker, Is in Receivership |work=New York Times |date=5 Jan