Pure Genius: Simon Pearce’s Handblown Glass

When a glassmaker from Ireland transplanted his namesake company, Simon Pearce, to the U.S., he was drawn specifically to Vermont by the promise of cheap hydroelectric power. That was in 1981. Today, he operates three factories making pottery as well as glass, which is 100 percent lead-free and handblown according to centuries-old techniques. The Pure collection’s graceful pendant fixtures, sparkling with quiet beauty, embody his aesthetic. Emerson is a simple clear glass cylinder. Bell-shape Middlebury’s middle is encircled by a belt, also in glass. Winter ice formations inspired Silver Lake’s crinkled body. Trapped air bubblesen liven Champlain’s flared form. An elongated sphere, Woodstock, is the largest, at 17 inches high. All take 60-watt bulbs, powered by a 6-foot cord. simonpearce.com.