Explore a bold lighting design collection created in collaboration with an iconic Irish crystal factory with roots in the 18th century

Waves are being made in lighting design at London Design Week this year, as Visual Comfort & Co unveils a bold new collection of lighting in collaboration with iconic Irish crystal factory Waterford.

It’s the first time the American lighting experts, renowned for their partnerships with Kelly Wearstel and Ralph Lauren, have worked with a European brand.

Crystal cutting is a technique rich with history, like Waterford, the oldest town in Ireland, where the eponymous factory was first established in 1783. Yet it's a design practice that endures and unsurprisingly so – is there any better way to mark a celebratory occasion than the clinking together of crystal flutes?

The sheer artistry of the craft, the timeless beauty of the pieces, and the rich history of the famed Irish brand are what inspired Visual Comfort to seek a partnership. It’s resulted in an elegant collection of crystal chandeliers, pendants, wall sconces, floor lamps, and rechargeable lamps that evoke the enchanting rugged coastline of the South East of Ireland while celebrating the craft tradition.

Explore the collaboration

The new collection consists of five new designs, each available in different lighting types, such as table, floor, wall and pendant, and in several finish options, including Natural Brass, Polished Nickel, and Bronze.

Copper Coast

Inspired by County Waterford’s striking Copper Coast famed for its mining history, this series focuses on the way crystals refract and bend light. Deep optic olive cuts evoke the appearance of the natural minerals in the earth, while bold diamond karo cuts capture the rugged beauty of the coastline. Each crystal part is handcrafted by no fewer than six master craftspeople, taking roughly four hours.

Blaze

Inspired by the Art Deco architecture of New York, especially the Chrysler Building with its iconic metal-clad spire, this design celebrates Waterford's signature 'Blaze' cutting style, with two sophisticated styles in a simple but striking linear design.

Circon

The Circon takes its shape and form from the legendary Fresnel lens of the Hook Head lighthouse at the tip of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford. It's the world’s oldest lighthouse still in use today and has guided sailors to safety for over 800 years. The design features deep, concentric V cuts that reflect and refract light through a handblown spherical crystal diffuser.

Killarney

Sixteen Waterford chandeliers can be found gracing Westminster Abbey in London, gifted to the British monarch by the Guinness family in the 1960s. It’s the iconic silhouettes of these chandeliers that the Killarney series recreates, taking its name from the code word used at the time to keep the project top secret.

Carraig

Named after the Gaelic word for rock, the Carraig series explores how faceted crystal shapes interact with light to produce a dazzling multitude of reflections. Taking inspiration from mid-century modern mobile sculptures, the angular brass frame creates an elegant and contemporary suspended centerpiece.

Waterford and Crystalware Making

Established in 1783 by the Penrose family who had a vision of creating high-quality crystal glassware and objects, over the years, Waterford has shaped and passed down a dexterous making technique from generation to generation, each step of the process taking decades to master. Many of the workers have been at the factory for their whole lives and take huge pride in what they do, putting the small Irish town on a global manufacturing stage.

One of the few crystal manufacturers that still practice the ancient craft of wooden mold making, Waterford creates wooden molds to shape their glass, used for up to 10 days before the heat compromises their structural integrity.

Furnaces reach temperatures of up to 2400°F, making the glass malleable so it can be blown into shape by hand or machine. Formulas of fine raw materials are used, now free from toxic lead, formerly a common component in glass worldwide. In the final cutting stage, intricate patterns, committed to memory by the cutters, are applied, before finishing touches.

The Visual Comfort & Co and Waterford collaboration marks a remarkable coming together of contemporary lighting design and centuries-old crystal craftsmanship, celebrating both the evocative history and landscape of the South East of Ireland. For those who have a connection to this part of the world, drawn to both artistry and heritage, these timelessly elegant designs sure to elevate any space are not to be missed.