Paul Ysart was born in Barcelona, Spain, in 1904, both his father and grandfather being master glassblowers. Five years later Mr. Ysart, Senior took up employment in France, working in Lyons, Marseilles and Paris, and in 1915 joined the Edinburgh and Leith Flint Glassworks in Edinburgh, Scotland, makers of the world famous Edinburgh crystal. The family moved to Edinburgh, and at the age of thirteen Paul commenced his training as a glassblower, acting as servitor to his father.