For the last several years, Bob gave me Waterford Crystal for Valentine’s Day. This year was no exception. This beautiful ‘Seahorse’ pitcher matches many of my other Waterford pieces.
Here’s some information about the town of Waterford, Ireland, where these are manufactured.
Waterford (from the Old Norse: Vedrarfjord meaning “Ram fjord” or Windy fjord; Irish: Port Lairge, meaning Hilly Shore) is a city in Ireland. It is the primary city of the South East region, and the fifth largest in the country. Founded in 914 AD, by the Vikings, it is Ireland’s oldest city.
Waterford is the largest city in Ireland to retain its Viking-derived name, Vedrarfjord. Reginald’s Tower is the oldest urban civic building in Ireland, and the oldest monument to retain its Viking name. It is to this day Waterford’s most recognizable landmark. The tower is believed to be the first building in Ireland to use mortar.
Today, Waterford is synonymous with Waterford Crystal the world over, a legacy of one of the city’s most successful and enduring industries, glass making. Glass, or crystal, has been manufactured in the city since 1783.
Click on the image for the extra-large close-up.
