Description

Transforming simple sand and mineral deposits into radiant, flawlessly cut glass objects represents one of Ireland’s most celebrated industrial heritages. Glassmaking in Ireland delivers a thorough, beautifully accurate investigation into the technical evolution, economic triumphs, and sudden collapses of this delicate luxury trade over four centuries.

The volume looks deeply past modern retail marketing to analyze the functional operations of historic glasshouses in Dublin, Cork, Belfast, and the legendary operations established by the Penrose brothers in Waterford in 1783. Written with direct clarity, the text maps out shifting design fashions, fuel transitions from charcoal to coal, and the intricate technical skills required for mouth-blowing and deep diamond wedge cutting. It stands out as an exceptional, inspiring choice for design professionals, antique collectors, and industrial archaeology libraries.

Core industrial insights highlighted in this work:

• Technical Masterclass Layout: Details the precise chemical formulations, furnace designs, and tool customizations used by master glass-blowers across generations.

• Socioeconomic Market Impacts: Tracks how shifting colonial tariffs, luxury taxes, and global competition continuously reshaped the output of Irish factories.

• Unrivaled Reference Materials: Packed with specific maker marks, factory site blueprints, historic auction records, and comprehensive archival registries.