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Broderie perse (French for "Persian embroidery") is a style of
appliqué
Appliqué is ornamental needlework in which pieces or patches of fabric in different shapes and patterns are sewn or stuck onto a larger piece to form a picture or pattern. It is commonly used as decoration, especially on garments. The technique ...
which uses printed elements to create a scene on the background fabric. It was most popular in Europe in the 17th century, and probably travelled from
India
India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...
, as there are some earlier findings there. The technique could be considered an early form of puzzle piecing.
Description
Broderie perse can be done with any printed fabric on any ground, but it originally was worked with
Chintz
Chintz () is a woodblock printed, painted, stained or glazed calico textile that originated in Golconda (present day Hyderabad, India) in the 16th century. The cloth is printed with designs featuring flowers and other patterns in different colour ...
type fabrics. Chintz typically has clearly defined, separated motifs, which were cut out and invisibly applied onto the ground fabric. The typical intention was to create a scene from the motifs, but the decoration could also be random. The resulting fabric was often made into bedspreads, either unlined for summer or quilted for winter. They were typically saved for special occasions, such as guest beds.
A noted example of Broderie perse is the central panel of the
Rajah Quilt
''Raja'' (; from , IAST ') is a royal title used for South Asian monarchs. The title is equivalent to king or princely ruler in South Asia and Southeast Asia.
The title has a long history in South Asia and Southeast Asia, being attested f ...
which was made by women as they were transported to Tasmania in 1841. The quilt was rediscovered in 1989 and is now in Australia.
See also
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History of quilting
The history of quilting, the stitching together of layers of padding and fabric, may date back as far as 3400 BCE.
For much of its history, quilting was primarily a practical technique to provide physical protection and insulation. However, decorat ...
References
External links
Broderie Perse
Books
"Broderie Perse: The Elegant Quilt" by Barbara W. Barber
"Flowers In Applique: Fast and Simple Quilting with Printed-Motif Fabrics" by Judy Severson
Embroidery
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