For the past 26 years, gold-thread embroiderer Sylvie Deschamps has headed Le Bégonia d'Or, a gold-embroidery workshop in the historic town of Rochefort, just south of La Rochelle in the west of France.
The town dates back to the 11th century, when Rochefort Castle was built to prevent a Norman attack. But the modern fortified town of Rochefort was established in the late 17th century, when the Sun King Louis XIV’s minister, Jean-Baptiste Colbert, founded an arsenal and military port there. To embellish the men’s military attire, gold-embroidery workshops were established in the town.
Deschamps continues the town’s gold-embroidery tradition. She holds the prestigious title of Master Artist, an honor bestowed by the French Ministry of Culture and Communication to fine craftspeople who are recognized by their peers as virtuoso artists, and who are capable of passing on the embroidery heritage to future generations.
There are only 89 master artists in France, and Deschamps is currently the only gold-thread embroiderer with the title. Recalling the day she received the honor in 2010, Deschamps said in a telephone interview, “It was one of the most memorable days of my life.”
The Master Artist title brought Deschamps and Le Bégonia d'Or much media attention, and many illustrious commissions from luxury companies such as the fashion houses of Hermès, Cartier, and Valentino; the perfumer Guerlain; the Swiss watchmaker Piaget; and the shoemaker John Lobb.
Besides the luxury brands, the Le Bégonia d'Or atelier also undertakes commissions to design and create unique embellishments for interiors of private jets, yachts, and homes. In addition, Deschamps and her team restore and repair gold embroidery on many items, from ecclesiastical banners to customers’ couches.
Mastering Gold-Thread Embroidery
As a teenager, Deschamps once set her heart on becoming a lingerie maker, as she loved different types of delicate lace. Her love for lace remains, but her professional lingerie-making hopes were dashed when she was 15 years old. A lack of students interested in learning to make lingerie meant the course she wanted to take didn’t run that year.The school also specialized in gold-thread embroidery, and when Deschamps saw some of the finished pieces, she knew that was what she wanted to study.
“The gold thread chose me, rather than me choosing the material,” she said.
In 1995, Deschamps was approached to be director of the new atelier, Le Bégonia d'Or. The atelier is the only state-funded gold-embroidery workshop in France, Deschamps said. The atelier was established to serve the local school for its gold-embroidery students to gain work experience, as per traditional training.
Meticulously Made in France
All the materials used in the atelier are made in France. And the gold thread itself is made by the historic gold-thread maker in the country, Ets Carlhian.Gold thread differs from normal embroidery threads such as silk. Gold thread consists of a little spring of gold which is cut to size and then strung on a thread, like stringing pearls. The precious metal thread isn’t as supple as normal thread, and it requires delicate, expert handling since it can easily be damaged, Deschamps explained.
“When you touch gold thread, it’s smooth and cold … and it’s wonderful to handle and have between your fingers,” she said.
Many of Le Bégonia d'Or’s commissions demonstrate Deschamps’s exquisite skills, and indeed her patience. For instance, Swiss watchmaker Piaget approached Deschamps to make 350 limited-edition watch faces for its exclusive Altiplano ultrathin watches.
One of those selected was Le Bégonia d'Or’s entry. Deschamps along with Rouhaud took 135 hours to embroider the bottle, which is on display in Guerlain’s boutique on the Champs-Élysées in Paris.
