Vintage clear glass decanter with spherical topper.A decanter is a vessel that is used to hold the decantation of a liquid which may contain sediment. Decanters, which have varied shaped design, have been traditionally made from glass or crystal. These vessels usually hold a standard bottle of wine. Waterford Crystal is an Irish manufacturer of crystal glassware, specifically cut-glass products. Its namesake comes from the city of Waterford in Ireland.