Was Waterford crystal always produced with the Waterford logo?

Answer 1

The current Seahorse label came into official use in 1986. Prior to that we used a Dolphin image taken from the Waterford Coat of Arms, with a Shamrock motif at the base. This image is based on a medieval artists impression of what a dolphin might look like and the artist portrayed it as a scaly "seahorse" like creature but with the tail turning to the back, opposite to an actual seahorse. This is why our current Seahorse label is anatomically incorrect and has a shamrock mutation in its tail. To this day old timers in the Company still refer to the label as the Dolphin but by 1986 most of our customers were referring to it as a Dolphin so the official change was made.Waterford Crystal Logo Info

Over the years the style of the Waterford logo and the Seahorse symbol have changed somewhat. Despite the changes, all Waterford products have continued to bear identification. Each piece of crystal is indelibly stamped, usually on the base, with the word "Waterford".

In recent years, the image of the Seahorse has been paired with the word "Waterford" as the official backstamp. The stamping is faint, to avoid spoiling the crystal, and is best seen in bright light against a dark background

Here is a brief history on Waterford Crystal and a few other facts.

The Penrose Glass House in Waterford, Ireland was founded by brothers George and William Penrose 1783. Due to the financial climate in 1851, largely due to excise duties the Penrose Glass House closed and never opened again. Any marked Penrose crystal would say "Penrose Waterford" So when anyone speaks of antique Waterford crystal they are speaking of crystal made in Waterford, Ireland by the Penrose Glass House only.

The Waterford Crystal company we know today was founded in 1947 and that time frame is when the "Waterford" mark was first used. The Waterford mark was changed in 1999 to commemorate the Millennium and has a seahorse, like they use on their green and gold paper labels incorporate a into it. The first Waterford items marked that way were from their new Millennium collection.

For those dealing in antique crystal; The Waterford company of today had no ties to the Penrose company. and while the Waterford company of today does claim Penrose as a part of their history; it's only about Waterford, Ireland history and both companies having produced crystal there.

Great information, however all Waterford Crystal is not marked. There are two styles of marking that is used by Waterford. Etching is one and stamping is the other. Many of the older pieces and quite a few of the more elite patterns have items that are not etched or stamped. Lismore is a pattern that has many items that bear no Waterford marking other than the green and gold foil logo sticker.