Simon Pearce
Simon Pearce (born 1946) is an Irish-American entrepreneur in glassblowing and pottery, who learned his trade in Kilkenny, Ireland.
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Business development
Pearce located his first US factory, in Quechee, Vermont, in 1981. This site, which is powered hydroelectrically by the Ottauquechee River, became a showroom, restaurant, and glass-blowing demonstration facility.[1] The New York Times described him as a prominent American designer of glassware[2] and his works have been given as gifts to foreign dignitaries[3] and to presenters at the Academy Awards.[4]
Pearce's company headquarters is in Windsor, Vermont; another manufacturing facility is in Mountain Lake Park, Maryland.[5] His company has retail outlets, sometimes with associated restaurants, on both coasts of the US.[2]
Personal life and family
As of 2016, Pearce maintained a home in Hartland, Vermont;[6] previously, he resided in Norwich, Vermont.[7] He and his wife, Pia, have four sons.[6] Their youngest son is Kevin Pearce, a snowboarder, who was seriously injured in 2009 while training for the Olympics.[7] Kevin is the subject of the 2013 HBO film The Crash Reel.[6][8]
Pearce's book, “Simon Pearce: Design For Living” was published in the fall of 2016.[9][10]
References
- Eiseman, Alberta (August 21, 1988). "Glassmaking Finds a Home in Vermont". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- Hooper Samuels, Sam (March 24, 2006). "Glassmaking in Vermont". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- Cullen, Kevin (May 2, 2008). "Irish PM gives $2M to the Kennedy Library". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- Pollak, Sally (Feb 27, 2007). "Vermont goes to the Oscars". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- "About Us—History". Simon Pearce Company website. Retrieved 2011-12-24.
- Neilson, Laura (2016-06-24). "A Quaint Vermont Destination for Buying Glass (and Brunch)". New York Times. Retrieved August 8, 2016.
- Branch, John (May 3, 2010). "No Place Like This for Soothing Care". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 February 2011.
- "The Crash Reel". Retrieved July 9, 2014.
- Kardashian, Kirk (17 September 2016). "New Book Illuminates Simon Pearces' Influences and Design Philosophy". Seven Days. Burlington, Vermont. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
- Suokko, Glenn; Sherman, John; Pearce, Simon; Downes, Margaret (2016-09-13). Simon Pearce: Design for Living. Rizzoli. ISBN 9780847849321.