Malcolm Archer is to become subject leader in clocks. He has previously worked as an assistant curator of horology at the British Museum and as a conservator at Temple Newsam House in Leeds. He first taught at West Dean in 2010 and has now been promoted to subject leader.
Goldsmith and metals conservator Maickel van Bellegem will be subject leader for metalwork.
Previously at the Rijksmuseum, the British Museum and the V&A, he said: “Having supervised students during their placements at the British Museum I’m very much looking forward to working with students building their expertise in both craft skills and conservation techniques.”
The college teaches across a range of conservation specialisms and crafts.
A recent project was Salvador Dalí’s original Lobster Telephone c.1938. Two conservation students worked on the item and performed a condition report.
Conservation students at West Dean College perform a condition report on ‘Lobster Telephone’ (1938) Salvador Dalí.
Edward James, founder of West Dean, was a patron of surrealist art and purchased this piece from Dali in the 1940s.
The work is being loaned by West Dean to the Royal Academy of Arts for the Dalí/Duchamp exhibition which opened this month and runs until January.
