Waterford Crystal: Difference between revisions
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*[http://www.waterfordvisitorcentre.com/ Waterford Crystal Visitor Centre] |
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*[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/raise-the-last-glass/introduction/4905/ "Raise the Last Glass" PBS online documentary]. |
*[http://www.pbs.org/wnet/wideangle/episodes/raise-the-last-glass/introduction/4905/ "Raise the Last Glass" PBS online documentary]. |
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*[https://www.jasperconran.com/collections/dining/crystal,2,CLP.html Jasper Conran Crystal] |
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{{Glass makers and brands}} |
{{Glass makers and brands}} |
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Revision as of 15:10, 16 June 2011
Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009.[1] Waterford Crystal is still produced in other locations throughout Europe, notably Germany and the Czech Republic, by the company WWRD Holdings Ltd.
History
A crystal business was originally founded in the city in 1783 by George and William Penrose; it produced extremely fine flint glass that became world-renowned. However, their company closed in 1851.[2] In 1947, Czech immigrant Charles Bacik, grandfather of Irish senator Ivana Bacik, established a glass works in the city, due to the superb reputation of the original glassware. Aided by fellow countryman and designer Miroslav Havel,[3] the company started operations in a depressed Ireland. By the early 1950s it had been taken over as a subsidiary of the Irish Glass Bottle company, owned by Joseph McGrath, Richard Duggan and Spencer Freeman of the Irish Hospitals' Sweepstake, heavy investors in Irish business at that time.[4]
Jasper Conran began designing his signature range of crystal for Waterford in 1999. The endeavour has evolved into four unique lines for Waterford and a complementary tableware collection in fine bone china for Wedgwood.
In May 2005, Waterford Wedgwood announced the closure of its factory in Dungarvan in order to consolidate all operations into the main factory in Kilbarry, Waterford City, where 1,000 people were employed by the company. The move resulted in nearly 500 Dungarvan workers losing their jobs.
The Kilbarry operation featured a tourist centre offering guided tours of the factory, a gift shop, cafe, and gallery. After the closure of that factory on Jan 30th, 2009, former employees and their families staged a sit in, hoping to prevail upon receiver Deloitte to retain those jobs.[5] The sit in ended in March, 2009 after workers agreed to split a payment of €10m.[6] The worker's fight to keep the factory open is chronicled in a PBS online documentary.[7]
Waterford Crystal Limited was, until March 2009, a subsidiary of Waterford Wedgwood plc, itself formed through the acquisition by the then Waterford Glass Group of the famous pottery manufacturer Josiah Wedgwood in 1986. The last chairman was Tony O'Reilly, and the CEO John Foley. The leading shareholders of the holding company are former billionnaire O'Reilly and his family, joined in the last decade by O'Reilly's brother-in-law, Greek shipping heir Peter Goulandris. That company was forced into receivership in early 2009.
Under the receivership managed by Deloitte, ownership of most of Waterford Wedgwood plc's assets was transferred to KPS Capital Partners in March 2009. Waterford Crystal, along with Wedgwood, Royal Doulton, and other brands, were transferred to the new company WWRD Holdings Ltd.[8] The sale did not include the factory or visitor centre in Kilbary, Ireland.
2009 troubles
On 5 January 2009, news of the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood Ltd. was announced in Ireland and the UK.[9]
On 30 January 2009 it was announced that the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry was to shut down immediately, despite earlier promises to discuss any such move with the unions in advance. Many of the employees performed an unofficial sit-in.[10] The sit-in made the BBC News[11] On 4 February 2009, there were protests across the city at how the workers were being treated.
On 27 February 2009, the receiver, David Carson of Deloitte, confirmed US equity firm KPS Capital were to purchase certain overseas assets and businesses of the Waterford Wedgwood Group.[12] The purchase was completed on March 27, 2009, at which point KPS formed a new company, WWRD Holdings Ltd to manage these brands.[8] The visitor centre shut its doors on January 22, 2010[13] but a new visitor and manufacturing facility opened in June 2010.[14]
Products
Waterford produces many patterns of lead crystal stemware, including lines such as Adare, Alana, Colleen, Kincora, Lismore, Maeve, Tramore, and many others.
In 1966 Waterford's chandeliers were installed in Westminster Abbey for the 900th anniversary of the dedication of the abbey after Christoper Hildyard, a minor canon of the abbey for 45 years, convinced the Guinness family to pay for them.[15] Chandeliers hang in other notable buildings, such as Windsor Castle, and the Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C.[16] 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 foot in diameter and is lit by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDs.[17][18]
Sporting trophies are also crafted by Waterford,[3] such as the Masters Series crystal shield trophies that are awarded to the winner of each of the nine men's professional tennis Masters Series tournaments, the AFCA National Championship Trophy that is awarded to the US college football team which finishes the season at the top of the Coaches Poll, and a representation of the Ashes urn that is presented to the winners of the Test cricket series between England and Australia.
Also crafted by Waterford are the winning trophies for the French and German Grand Prix in Formula One, a bat and ball trophy presented at the final game at Yankee Stadium to Derek Jeter and a a glass tennis racket for Boris Becker.[3] They also design the trophies for the People's Choice Awards.[19]
See also
References
- ^ "Waterford Crystal closed amid crippling debts". USA Today. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ^ Werdigier, Julia (2009-01-05). "Waterford, the Crystal Maker, Is in Receivership". New York Times. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ^ a b c "Miroslav Havel: chief designer of Waterford Crystal". Obituary. The Times. 2008-09-04. Retrieved 2010-10-17.
- ^ Garavan, Thomas N. (1996). Cases in Irish business strategy and policy. Cengage Learning EMEA. p. 347. ISBN 1860760147.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Lyall, Sarah (2009-03-09). "Workers and Tourists Keep Showing Up at a Closed Irish Factory". New York Times. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ^ Edwards, Elaine (2009-03-22). "Waterford Crystal workers to end sit-in after deal accepted". The Irish Times. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ^ "Wide Angle: Raise the Last Glass". PBS. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ^ a b "WWRD Holdings Limited acquires the assets of Waterford, Wedgwood, and Royal Doulton". KPS Capital Partners. 2009-03-26. Retrieved 2010-01-23.
- ^ Arm candy (2009-01-05). "Waterford placed into receivership as no buyer found". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
- ^ "Staff protest over Waterford Crystal closure". RTÉ News. 2009-01-30. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ^ "Workers occupy crystal factory". BBC News. 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2009-02-03.
- ^ "Waterford Crystal bought by equity firm". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2009-03-21.
- ^ "Waterford Crystal visitors' centre closes". RTÉ News and Current Affairs. 2010-01-22. Retrieved 2010-01-22.
- ^ "Waterford Crystal visitor centre opens". The Irish Times. 2010-06-11. Retrieved 2011-02-03.
- ^ Beeson, Trevor (2002). Priests And Prelates: The Daily Telegraph Clerical Obituaries. London: Continuum Books. pp. 4–5. ISBN 0-8264-633-7-1.
- ^ Morris, Shirley (April 2007). Interior Decoration - A Complete Course. Global Media. p. 105. ISBN 8-1899-406-5-1.
- ^ MSNBC Times Square ball to get LED makeover (retrieved 31 December 2006)
- ^ "New Year's Eve: About the Ball". New Year's Eve. Times Square District Management Association. Retrieved 2009-01-01.
- ^ Mulligan, John (2010-01-26). "Waterford Crystal to create 80 jobs at flagship factory in city". Dublin: Irish Independent. Retrieved 2010-10-17.