Knielbank van de trouwplechtigheid van prinses Beatrix van Oranje-Nassau en Claus von Amsberg in de Westerkerk c. 1966

This yellow bench by Dols en Co. was part of the wedding ceremony of Princess Beatrix and Claus von Amsberg. Imagine designing something to be knelt on at a royal wedding. I mean, no pressure, right? It must have been quite a project to come up with a design that was both functional and dignified. I can picture the makers experimenting with different materials and shapes to find just the right balance between comfort and solemnity. And the color! A subtle yellow, not too flashy, not too dull, but regal. I wonder what the makers thought about during the ceremony, watching their creation take center stage. Were they nervous? Proud? It makes you wonder about all the unseen hands that contribute to these big historical moments. It reminds me that everything we make is a conversation with the past, a response to what came before, and an invitation for future creators to join in.