The Importance of Copies as the Reminiscence of Lost Collections at Kenwood House

Kenwood House is a neoclassical villa on the edge of Hampstead Heath, London. The collections at Kenwood, as well as the architecture and interiors of Robert Adam, are of great historical value and cultural significance for England. English Heritage become responsible for the Iveagh Bequest at Kenwood in 1986. The main issues that will be discussed and emphasised in this paper is about the importance of copies (replicas) and authenticity of the collections that was carried out by English Heritage during the restoration project since for Kenwood House whose artefacts lost and dispersed at auction in 1922, replicas could be considered as a reminder of the originals. Thus, as the custodian, educator, regulator and advisor on the heritage assets, English Heritage aims to bring back the ‘wholeness’ of historic significance of Kenwood House by using both genuine objects and copies to create a more authentic 18th-century setting to support the concept of restoration that implies the returning of property to its original state. By focusing on a critical context for its research methodology, this paper will open to challenge and debate. Researcher tried to employ methodologies that could reflect her particular discipline-specific expertise: Visual Arts and Museum Studies. Therefore, this paper will provide a sample of review outcomes that could demonstrate another perspective of seeing and understanding the significance of copies or replicas in positive manner.