Old Irish Glass

A passionate survey of Ireland's overlooked glass-making heritage, first published in 1921 and now a collector's treasure in its own right. Graydon Stannus traces the craft from its tentative medieval origins through the 1580s when production genuinely took root, to the magnificent flowering of the mid-eighteenth century when Irish glasshouses in Waterford, Dublin, and Cork produced wares that rivaled, and sometimes surpassed, the finest English and Continental work. What emerges is not merely a technical history but a portrait of an artisan culture shaped by geography, trade restrictions, and the particular alchemy of Irish sand and soda. Stannus illuminates what distinguishes Irish glass: a depth of color, a 'velvet softness' to the touch, and a weight and resilience that collectors prize. She also offers honest counsel on the challenges facing enthusiasts, from the devastating 1788 export ban that crippled the industry to the proliferation of fakes that still bedevil the market. Part love letter, part practical guide, this remains essential reading for anyone drawn to the material poetry of old glass.