Engraved Crystal & Glass Corporate Award Plaques

Founded in 1977, Pacific Etched Glass & Crystal is best known as a supplier of engraved crystal and glass products to the hotel industry. Here at Pacific Glass, we have engraved corporate award plaques, golf tournament prizes and awards, and golf trophy items that are featured at many of the most prestigious hotels, resorts, and museum stores in the United States and, increasingly, around the world.

We have recently added many new products, including European hand cut crystal and optical engraved crystal awards in a variety of shapes and sizes. We invite you to take a few minutes and browse our catalog of crystal awards and plaques. If you have any questions or would like any additional information, please contact us.

Pyramid Candy Dish $32.00

Golfer's Pub Glass $10.00

Circle Award $95.00

Glass harmonica

The glass harmonica, also known as the glass armonica, hydrocrystalophone, or simply armonica (derived from "armonia", the Italian word for harmony) is a type of musical instrument that uses a series of glass bowls or goblets graduated in size to produce musical tones by means of friction (instruments of this type are known as friction idiophones).

The word "glass harmonica" (also 'glassharmonica,' 'glass armonica' or 'Glasharmonika' in German) refers to any instrument played by rubbing glass or crystal goblets or bowls. When Benjamin Franklin invented his mechanical version of the instrument, he called it the "armonica", based on the Italian word "armonia", which means "harmony".^[1] The instrument consisting of a set of wine glasses (usually tuned with water) is generally known in English as "musical glasses" or "glass harp". It can also be referred to as a "ghost fiddle".

Glass harmonica being played in Rome, Italy. The rims of wine glasses filled with water are rubbed by the player's fingers to create the notes.

Because its sounding portion is made of glass, the glass harmonica is a crystallophone. The phenomenon of rubbing a wet finger around the rim of a wine goblet to produce tones is documented back to Renaissance times; Galileo considered the phenomenon (in his Two New Sciences), as did Athanasius Kircher.

The Irish musician Richard Puckeridge is typically credited as the first to play an instrument composed of glass vessels by rubbing his fingers around the rims.^[2] Beginning in the 1740s, he performed in London on a set of upright goblets filled with varying amounts of water. During the same decade, Christoph Willibald Gluck also attracted attention playing a similar instrument in England.

Lead crystal and food safety

Significant amounts of lead can migrate from lead crystal containers into beverages stored in them.^[1] Lead crystal typically contains 24–35 percent lead oxide. In a study performed at North Carolina State University, the amount of lead migration was measured for port wine stored in lead crystal decanters. After two days, lead levels were 89 µg/L (micrograms per liter). After four months, lead levels were between 2,000 and 5,000 µg/L. White wine doubled its lead content within an hour of storage and tripled it within four hours. Some brandy stored in lead crystal for over five years had lead levels around 20,000 µg/L.^{[citation needed]} To put this into perspective, EPA's lead standard for drinking water is 15 µg/L = 15ppb.^[2] Citrus juices and infant formula leach lead from crystal just as effectively as alcoholic beverages. Several companies do make lead crystal baby bottles and it is suspected they may present a health danger to infants.^{[citation needed}

Lead crystal

Lead crystal, (also called crystal), is lead glass that has been hand or machine cut with facets. Lead oxide added to the molten glass gives lead crystal a much higher index of refraction than normal glass, and consequently much greater "sparkle". The presence of lead also makes the glass softer and easier to cut. Crystal can consist of up to 35% lead, at which point it has the most sparkle. The higher lead content also makes it much more difficult to form crystal during manufacturing.

Englishman George Ravenscroft discovered crystal in 1676.

Makers of lead crystal objects include Baccarat and J.G.Durand in France, Royal Leerdam Crystal of the Netherlands, Steuben Glass in the United States, Waterford Crystal in Ireland, Mikasa in Japan, Swarovski in Austria and Preciosa in Czech Republic .

Waterford Crystal Glass

For centuries the Irish have been supreme artists in glass. It is one of the great traditions in the realm of art, a tradition founded on patient and meticulous hand craftsmanship. But the skill of Irish hands is only part of the story - there is also an uncanny power in those hands to impart something magical to glass. And in all of Ireland, no hands have been more patient, more meticulous, or more blessed with the elusive powers of art than the hands of Waterford Crystal's craftsmen.
When the brothers George and William Penrose founded the Waterford Glass House in 1783, they made a bold promise - to make crystal in "as fine a quality as any in Europe… in the most elegant style." It was no idle boast. They had in hand the old secrets of mingling minerals and glass to create a crystal of beautiful and mysterious qualities. It sang sweetly at the tap of a finger. It felt soft and warm to the touch yet possessed strength and durability. And it radiated a distinctive, silvery white brilliance, which Waterford Crystal's artists enhanced with deeply - cut ornamentation that gave the finished pieces a vivacious sparkle. Patience, skill, and artistry had wrought a triumph.
A splendid array of drinkware, serving accessories, and decorative crystal flowed from the Glass House into the aristocratic home of Europe and America. King George III ordered a set of Waterford Crystal sent to his residence at a fashionable resort, where "it has been much admired" by court society. At two exhibitions, the Royal Dublin Society bestowed medals for superb design on Waterford Crystal's entries. Just as Waterford's art was reaching its full flower, the financial climate turned grim. In 1851 a suite of ornamental banqueting crystal was displayed at the London Exhibition to universal acclaim; and in the same year the owner, George Gatchell, was forced to close the Waterford factory, largely because of crushing taxes.
This great tradition lay dormant for a hundred years. But when Irish independence rekindled a passion for Irish arts in the 1940s and 1950s, a group of businessmen resolved to bring back to life the industry that had made the city of Waterford famous. They recruited a small band of hand - picked artists, and under the guidance of these masters, young apprentices learned the intricacies of the art of crystal. In a few short years Waterford Crystal reclaimed its pride of place. Once more, it is the customary gift for royalty and heads of state. The Irish government has presented exquisite Waterford Crystal pieces to each American president from Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ronald Reagan. Waterford Crystal trophies are awarded for distinguished achievement in science and to the champions of some of the world's most prestigious sporting events. Thus the glory of Waterford Crystal has reawakened - a splendid phoenix rising from the ashes. Once again, the name "Waterford" summons up all the elegance, the fine craftsmanship, and the magical allure of Irish art.