From Molten Glass to Finished Form, A Process 3500 Years in the Making.

At Chelsea Clock, craftsmanship has always been at the center of what we make. Our new glass bases extend that tradition – this time through the work of Michael Curran Hall, a Massachusetts-based artist who has spent more than two decades working with glass.

From his studio in Salem, Hall operates both North Shore Glass School and Curran Glassworks + Design, where he continues to explore the intersection of art, material, and process.

Each base is created through glass casting – an ancient technique that predates glass blowing. 2,200 degree molten glass is carefully transferred by hand into a custom precision CNC graphite mold, where it begins its transformation. Mineral oxides are introduced to create subtle variations in tone and depth. Bubbles and ripples form harening water, waves, and the sea, no two are exactly alike. After casting, each piece undergoes a precise 12-hour annealing process, allowing it to cool with strength, clarity, and integrity. It is then cut and finished to its final form.

The result is a truly unique base that feels as substantial as the timepiece it supports—quietly architectural, distinctly American, and built to last.

No shortcuts. No two pieces identical.