What is the estimated value of this Irish Regency decanter?

This Irish Regency lead-crystal decanter, attributed to the Waterloo Glass Company, has an estimated market value of £150 - £250. This valuation is based on its attribution to a desirable maker, good condition, and period-correct stopper. While generic plain decanters sell for less, the potential maker's mark elevates its collector appeal, placing it in a more specialist category.

What era is this Waterloo Glass Company decanter from?

This decanter is from the Irish Regency period, specifically circa 1815-1830. This era, also known as Late Georgian, was a 'golden age' for Irish glass, with companies like Waterloo Glass Company in Cork gaining international recognition for their heavy lead crystal. Its 'Prussian' form, with straight sides and triple neck rings, is characteristic of the period.

What condition is this antique Irish decanter in?

The decanter is in good overall condition, consistent with its age. The heavy lead crystal remains largely clear with no major chips or cracks. Minor surface scratches and light basal wear ('mossing') are present, which are expected for a two-century-old antique and do not significantly detract from its value. The stopper also shows only minor roughness.

Where should I sell this Waterloo Glass Company decanter?

For selling this decanter, specialist UK regional auction houses like Fieldings Auctioneers or Lyon & Turnbull are recommended due to their dedicated glass sales and targeted buyer base. Online curated platforms such as Catawiki also offer global reach. For a quicker sale, consider specialist dealers like Marris Antiques. Selling within the UK market is advised to avoid high international shipping and customs costs.

Is the attribution to Waterloo Glass Company certain?

The attribution to the Waterloo Glass Company is highly probable, based on a faint, circular molded mark on the base consistent with the firm's signature. However, the mark is worn and requires in-person examination by a specialist for absolute certainty. For sale purposes, it is recommended to describe it as 'attributed to' Waterloo Glass Company until physical verification.

An Irish Regency Lead-Crystal 'Prussian' Form Decanter, Attributed to the Waterloo Glass Company (Cork), circa 1815-1830

Estimated value: £150 - £250. An Irish Regency Lead-Crystal 'Prussian' Form Decanter, Attributed to the Waterloo Glass Company (Cork), circa 1815-1830 (Regency / Late Georgian) — a researched valuation with cited comparable sales in Decorative Art, from findthevalueof.com.

About this item

This decanter is a fine and authentic example of Irish glass production during its celebrated 'golden age' in the Regency period. The attribution to the Waterloo Glass Company of Cork (c. 1815-1835) is based on a characteristic molded maker's mark on the base. This period saw a boom in the Irish glass industry, spurred by favorable tax laws, with factories in Cork and Waterford gaining international renown for their brilliant, heavy lead crystal. The decanter's 'Prussian' form, with its straight sides, three applied neck rings, and mushroom stopper, was a classic and popular style of the era. These vessels were not merely functional items for serving wine and spirits but also symbols of taste and sophistication in the affluent Georgian and Regency household. While many decanters were heavily cut, this example's plain body emphasizes the clarity and elegant form of the hand-blown glass itself. Marked pieces from the Waterloo Glass Company are highly collectible and are represented in museum collections, including the National Museum of Ireland.

How the value was reached

The valuation is based on the decanter's attribution to the desirable Waterloo Glass Company, its good condition, and the presence of a period-correct stopper. The market for plain Anglo-Irish decanters is accessible, with generic examples selling for under £100. However, the specific maker's mark elevates this piece into a more specialist collector category. The comparable sale from Moorabool Galleries for a cut-glass Georgian decanter at approximately £197 provides a useful retail benchmark, which has been adjusted downwards to reflect this example's plain body. The very low eBay prices are for items with less certain attribution or condition, while the high-priced Lyon & Turnbull lot was for a group of five decorated decanters and is not a direct comparable. A recommended auction reserve would be £120. After auction house commissions (typically 10-15% of the hammer price), net proceeds would be in the range of £127 - £225.

Comparable sales

A late-Georgian Straight Sided Decanter c.1830, with three facetted neck rings, oval printie cut neck, petal cut shoulders and base, with hexagonal mushroom stopper. Height 29cm. — sold for £60.00 (Martel Maides Auctions), 2012-10-18
This 19th Century Cut Glass Decanter features 3 rings on the neck and heavy glass sides cut into rectangular sections, described as "Very Plain and Elegant". The mushroom-shaped stopper I believe is original and in excellent condition, also fits very smugly. The decanter is in good condition, with a small sliver missing from the edge of the base and some minor fleabites along the base's edge. — sold for £15.96 (eBay UK), 2026-07-06
This is an Antique 19th Century Decanter in a Georgian Style, obtained from an estate. It features three applied neck rings, a ground mushroom-shaped stopper, petal cut shoulders, and an etched wheat design. The decanter has a green manganese glow under a 365-wavelength black light, indicating manganese was used as a clarifying agent. It measures about 10” tall with the stopper and 4” across the b — sold for $60.00 (eBay), 2026-07-06
Georgian decanter with star cut base continuing up the sides to faceted shoulder, 3 rings to neck and mushroom stopper with matching star cut. Circa 1820. 24cm high. Condition: stopper with small bruise to top, minor etch line inside, minor signs of age, very usable. — sold for $380.00 AUD (Moorabool Antique Galleries), 2026-07-06

Expert notes

The valuation is contingent on the attribution to the Waterloo Glass Company. While highly likely, the maker's mark on the base is worn and difficult to read definitively from photographs. For the purposes of sale, it is recommended to describe the piece as 'Attributed to the Waterloo Glass Company'. Before offering it at a specialist auction, we would recommend having the mark examined in-person by a glass specialist to confirm the reading, as this is the primary driver of its value above that of a generic period decanter.

This report is one of the worked examples in our guide What is your glass worth, and why?.