Introduction

Joseph M. B. Schoonhoven (19-Oct-1971), certified clockmaker and post-graduate student of West Dean College (B.A.D.A. certified, British Antique Dealers Association)

During four years of horological education at the "Christiaan Huygensschool" of horology at Rotterdam, Holland, I have been educated in the ways of modern clockmaking. This included repairs and the understanding of quartz-driven wristwatches to longcase clocks.

After finishing this education with positive results and being able to call myself "gediplomeerd uurwerkmaker", I heard of West Dean College and its teaching programmes. My heart being with early antique clocks, I applied and succeeded in being accepted.

At West Dean College, under the supervision of Roger Still (clock-restorer, "Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Clockmakers", "Fellow of the British Horological Institute"), the restoration of antique clocks is being taught in an intensive way. The teaching and studying of the restoration of English and European antique clocks is of high standards, making it very thorough and unique, and is well thought of by many insiders, collectors and customers. Besides knowledge of restoration, the history of clocks is considered equally important, and the collecting of information is constant.

finished the course in the "Restoration of antique Clocks" with the West Dean Diploma ("distinction"), the "Sussex University Certificate", Guildford and a prize from the "Worshipful Company of Clockmakers", London.

I have worked for an excellent workshop (Richard Higgins Conservation, Lognor, Shropshire, England), enabling me to restore some interesting and challenging clocks of dealers, private customers and major associations (i.e. "English Heritage", "National Trust"). After staying there for almost two years, I decided to move back to Holland where I worked for a known dealer and restorer for almost half a year ("Crijns en Stender b.v.", Oosterhout).

After that I felt that it was time to set up my own business. At the moment I am running my own well equipped workshop doing restoration and repairs of all sorts of clocks, for private customers but also for dealers and associations (i.e. "Fortis Bank").

Having had my workshop in Holland for some years, I am currently working in the countryside of Oxfordshire in my own workshop.

University of Sussex diploma