Irish Company Offers Crystal at a Cut Rate

Just outside Dungannon in Northern Ireland is the small town of Killybrackey, home to the Tyrone Crystal Co.--the only one that makes all its products from start to finish in Ireland. Most crystal today comes from Yugoslavia, the Czech Republic and Germany.

This crystal is superb in clarity and brilliance and every bit as beautiful as the more expensive names, and beautifully priced as well, about one-third to one-half the price.

You can find it locally at the Irish Crystal Company, which has just opened in Thousand Oaks. If that rings a bell, there was an Irish crystal store in Thousand Oaks in the 1980s, but it closed about five years ago.

Because many of the popular designs in crystal are public domain, you will find the same patterns from various manufacturers. A 10 1/2-inch-high wine decanter in the traditional Antrim pattern is priced at $200, compared with $400 from one major name.

An Armagh bowl similar to one sold elsewhere for $450 is $200.

Oversize shot glasses are only $20, and champagne flutes that would run $55 to $60 from other makers are $38.90.

Jim McMahon is the genial proprietor, and you can count on some good “craic” (pronounced “crack,” Irish for fine conversation) and a joke or two.

The Irish Crystal Company, 1861 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (805) 494-1101.

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Weekend Super Sale: The Hot August Parking Lot Sale starts today and goes through Sunday at Dozar Office Furnishings. Actually, it’s two sales--one in the parking lot for furnishings that are Dozar’s rental returns and one in the showroom for floor samples.

The rental returns start at $1 a foot for folding tables to $100 for sofas (some leather). Desks start at $50 and go up to $1,500. The ergonomic chairs for $9.95 won’t last long. Sale time is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Major credit cards.

Dozar Office Furnishings, 9937 Jefferson Blvd., Culver City. (310) 559-9292.