Time measurement has kept humanity busy for many centuries. It was used to gain astronomical knowledge and to keep track of locations at sea. But the clock was developed also for domestic use, becoming indispensable to all. It has controlled our everyday lives for hundreds of years: from the times at which we participate in religious rituals to simply the moments when we choose to have dinner.

Through the centuries many different time instruments have been developed, each type functioning in a different way. Examples include sand glasses, water clocks, sundials and, especially later, mechanical clocks.

The focus on the mechanical clock grew especially after the invention of the pendulum by Christiaan Huygens in 1656. This scientist had managed to improve accurate timekeeping massively. The clock has, especially in the last four hundred years, taken on hundreds if not thousands of different shapes. These vary from turret clocks and wall clocks to longcase clocks.

Different uses demand different capabilities. A turret clock has to deal with all sorts of weather conditions, whilst timekeeping at sea requires a high level of accuracy.

But all clocks have one thing in common: they all have a mechanical background. They need maintenance and, every now and then, restoration - the latter mainly because the clock has become part of our cultural history. Clocks tell us about our history and in many cases something about their previous owners. An Amsterdam longcase clock for example gives us a view into the sea trade in the 18th century, whilst a Comtoise clock brings us back to the early-18th-century French provinces.

That is why we want to preserve them. To enjoy them, but also to keep them for future generations. A carefully considered approach towards conservation or restoration is in these cases of great importance, for both the emotional and the commercial value of the object. After all, a well-maintained clock is often a precious possession. With my company, Tjeerd Bakker Antique Clocks, the owner of such a piece can know for certain that their clock will receive a professional and justifiable treatment.