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.
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