Material authenticity or historical falsification

The KNOB and authentic historical substance

Abstract

In 1917 the Koninklijke Oudheidkundige Bond (KNOB) published its ‘Principles and precepts for the preservation, restoration and extension of historical buildings’. They represented a break with the views on restoration held by P.J.H. Cuypers and Victor de Stuers. The Principles opposed the reconstruction or arbitrary completion of historical buildings because this resulted in historical falsification and the destruction of heritage objects as historical documents. In practice, however,

these principles were often disregarded. Moreover, during the post-war reconstruction period the desire to restore the ravaged beauty of the city disposed many people to adopt a less purist viewpoint and there was little appetite for new rules. But in the 1970s the KNOB called for a re-evaluation of the principles. During a seminar on restoration philosophy and theory in 1978,

participants discussed the theme of ‘authenticity’.

There was a wide divergence of opinions on this concept. While for some it related strictly to the  authenticity of the original material, for others the notion of authenticity extended to design, form, space or finish. The latter interpretation proved to be too subjective for a collective viewpoint; the knob remained first and foremost the guardian of authentic historical substance.