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Reconstitution of Boutchiana - Part 1: the context

Reconstitution of Boutchiana's costume Part 1: The historical context Boutchiana This man appears in three watercolours by Hippolyte Charles Napoléon Mortier, the Duke of Trevise in the mid-19th century. two full-length portraits of a very young man, dated 24 August 1865 another, in bust form, dating from July 1871 Watercolours...

reconstitution, history, indian, costume, garment, boutchiana, kerveguen, clothing

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Victorine's "saisie"

Victorine's "saisie" This watercolour by Hippolyte Charles Napoléon Mortier, the Duke of Trevise depicting the 'nénène' ('nanny' in Creole) named Victorine, was discussed in an earlier article. One detail, however, deserves an article of its own: the "saisie" on which Victorine is sitting. What, then, is a "saisie" ? A "saisie" The detail of this watercolour, preserved in the Archives Départementales de La Réunion (reference 40FI52),...

mortier de trévise, watercolor, victorine, saisie, malagasy, tradition, traditional, weaving

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Cultural Synthesis Among the Indian Indentured Labour of the 19th Century

Cultural synthesis among the indian indentured labour of the 19th century Imagine you are on Reunion Island in the 19th century. How would you identify a person’s background from a distance? From his/her dress, of course! Dress is among the more visible expressions of culture; language is its essence. Indian indentured labour in 19th century European colonies developed a composite culture that combined elements from various...

clothes, fabric, indian, culture, costume, garment, dhoti, saree, gharara, lungi

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A discovery in Provence

A discovery in Provence Although my origins aren't particularly important in terms of my active participation in this project, they are more important for this article. I was born in Avignon, a town close to where I grew up, but also in Gordes, where I spent my school holidays, so I'm what you might call 'Provençal', and more broadly 'Mediterranean'. When you say the word 'Provence', you imagine fields of lavender, cicadas, summer heat......

research, fabric, history, India, costume, garment, motif

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Industrial Globalization & the Indian Indentured Labour of the 19th Century

Industrial Globalization & the Indian Indentured Labour of the 19th Century The Industrial Revolution unleashed contradictory forces in the 19th century. On one hand, it necessitated intercontinental mass labour transit. On the other, and in combination with the French Revolution, it sounded the death knell for slave labour, the very basis of plantation prosperity. Indentured labour emerged to replace slaves. The lure of...

research, indentured, history, indian, labourer, migration, people, India

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