Tuesday, January 6, 2009
IS NOW THE TIME TO BUY WATERFORD & WEDGWOOD?
Waterford Wedgwood, the famous British firm, lost so much money in the past few years it was forced to file for bankruptcy protection on Monday (January 5). Most of the firm's ceramics are now made in Jakarta, Indonesia (look at the bottom of new dishes in any store), and much of its Waterford Crystal is made by subcontractors in Eastern Europe. Waterford and Wedgwood are brands that have been around for almost 250 years. The Royal Doulton and Rosenthal brands are also owned by the company. Royal Worcester and Spode filed for bankruptcy last November. Collectors will have to wait to see what happens to these famous English glass and ceramics brands. They could disappear.
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19 comments:
How and do you expect this to effect the value of Waterford Crystal Collector pieces such as yearly Christmas Ornaments?
How and/or do you expect this to affect the value of Waterford Crystal yearly Christmas Ornaments that we collected?
Sorry I must point out that Waterford Chrystal is Irish Glassware, The Waterford Wedgewood Group have an Irish operated factory in Waterford city employing some 800 staff. The groups bankruptcy is a sad loss to Irelands proud glass making heritage.
Jenny Clarkin, Dublin Ireland
My wife collects the Pen Delfin Rabbits. In a trip to Victoria Canada a year or two ago, we found out that they are now made in Indonesia. Noticeable lack of quality compared to the ones made in England. We won't purchase any of the English China now made in Asia. Craftsmanship is not there.
This is sad news -- but when you learn that Wedgewood is not made in England anymore, nor Waterford in Ireland, it is little wonder that the name brand loses its intrinsic value to buyers. I have and cherish the old stuff but I have no interest in buying Wedgewood made in Indonesia - that's just not Wedgewood as we know it.
I was surprised to see this about the Waterford Wedgwood declaring bankruptcy. It was only yesterday that I was watching Martha Stewart and she was showing her new line of china made by Waterford and it was the Wedgwood line. So what would happen to her line?
Hi, just to be a little nationalistic and pedantic, Waterford Wedgewood PLC is an Irish company, not British or English (Waterford Wedgwood plc. Registered office: Kilbarry, Waterford, Ireland. Registered in Ireland No. 11861).
Regards
Richard
Well, when all the great glass makers disappear into the sunset that will leave only one bright spot--the prices for current pieces will go no where but up!
It's sad to see the fine china manufacturers fall by the wayside. The craftsmanship doesn't seem to be appreciated these days. Just before the holidays, Lenox closed after over a hundred years in the business. We'll all be eating on plastic before you know it!
This truley is a sad day. After visiting the factory 2 years ago and buying many beautiful things, the question comes to mind, Was what I bought in the gift shop made there or in Indonesia. Either way, I'll have the memories of lifetime.
This is very sad. My mother got her beautiful Wedgewood service for 12 on her 10th anniversary in 1966 and added another 6 place settings about 15 years later. Now that I have Mom's china (she died in May, 2008), looking at it brings back so many good holiday memories.
I guess I should have known that something was up when I saw Waterford glasses at Costco in December for virtually half the list price. Now what crystal do I buy?
How sad!!!
I watched artisans make many beautiful Crystal articles, including the final bowl that would let them be a master.(I don't know if I have the terms correct but i'm sure you know what I mean.)
I have a globe of the world that I bought in the 1960's and an apprentice bowl I bought from the factory in Waterford in 1985.
I will treasure my Waterford forever.
I feel that the moment a manufacturer of quality collectables decides to be greedy and move his business to another country for cheaper labor, quality will always pay. I have seen this with Thomas Clark figurines. Prices for his collectables have plummetted after he moved his manufacturing out of the USA.It has happened with Royal Doulton as well. It's just common sense to figure that when you take the skill of experienced craftsmen out of fine collectables, there is nothing left but basic glass and/or clay. I do believe however, that the quality of the older pieces will always remain high as they are indeed quality pieces made by true artisans.
Waterford Wedgwood is a British company with many divisions. Of course Waterford glass was always made in Ireland in the past. Now pieces in the store are identified with paper labels that tell the country of manufacture. We saw "Made in Poland" last week. We don't know what these changes will do to the market for vintage pieces. We welcome suggestions. And yes, the quality had changed for ceramics, we have not compared old and new glasswares yet.
The fact that they are farming out their production to Indonesia is proof of their dilution of quality. Serious collectors do not want products made in sweat shops by unskilled assembly line workers. It is a downward spiral. I would advise them to make a few items by skilled artisans...rather than a mountain of junk.
Does this mean Wedgwood (i.e. the blue and other colors) is not made in England anymore? We visited the factory in 2003 and had such a wonderful experience seeing it all being made and also making bowls of our own to have shipped home. A cherished memory!
I had thought that Wedgewood China owed its special quality to the elements in the clay found on a riverbank in England. In fact, an article in a US paper a few years ago said a riverbank in US had been found that for the first timed might equal the famous clay. So how is it made in Indonesia? Do they ship the clay, or just no longer care?
Friday, Jan. 9,2009
KPS Capital Partners, a US firm signed a letter of intent to buy the major assets of Waterford Wedgwood. That will include some from Waterford, Wedgwood and Royal Doulton and more. We will get the details and report as soon as we can.
June 17, 2009
With the sale of Royal Doulton to Waterford/Wedgwood and the Bankruptcy of Waterford/Wedgwood, the prices of Royal Doulton and Beswick items should be on the rise. They have reached a low recently on Ebay.
Now could be the time to consider buying Royal Doulton and Beatrix Potter Storybook figurines.
Also, with the demise of Royal Doulton followed the discontinuance of the Royal Doulton Collectors Club International, it has been replaced with the new Royal Doulton Collectors Club International as well as the Royal Doulton International Collectors Club on the internet. Go to:
http://www.royaldoultoncollectorsclubinternational.com
It's a delightful internet informative and educational site.
Harvey Liss
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