The Boutis

It is always a book which inspires the daily post. By Les Editions de Saxe here is the African Boutis written by Dominique Fave on the Boutis technique according to a new African taste. The boutis has been originated in India but it has reached its climax in Provence. We could compare it to the quilting or to the Florence quilt inspired by Catherine de' Medicis, character who is often present in the embroidery world (just remind the Ricamo de' Medici-Cuscino Ricciolo). At the end of the XVII century until the XIX century the boutis was the most known technique in France. Notwithstanding the fact France and India are the country where boutis was born, it appears that the name comes from Sicily and it refers to a little metal sewing instrument. According to other sources, the boutis is supposed to be an Indian flower. However, not considering these trifles, it is certain that the French embroiderers were inspired by textile imports from India. And a complete Oriental taste is evident in the relief motifs of the boutis realized by tracing the design on the fabric with the needle and the quilted fabric. The boutis is like a sort of piqué with little stitches with standard decorations like hearts, little birds, fountains, fruit baskets and so on.