The Boutaque: From Popular Seat to Archetype of Twentieth-Century Mexican Furniture

Abstract

Following the Mexican Revolution, a program began for the dissemination of certain symbols of national identity–to redefine Mexicanity. The search was expressed in fine and decorative arts, including furniture. In this context, the “Butaque” chair reappeared.

Artists like Luis Barragán, William Spratling, Clara Porset, and Manuel Parra, among others, proposed their own interpretations of this traditional rural seat, inserting it into a new socio-cultural context, making it a representative piece of 20th century Mexican furniture. Despite its significance, there have not been many studies or publications on the piece, and mystery surrounds its origin.

The objective of this work is to present a hypothesis about the origin of the “butaque” in the colonial codices, and to revalue it as a mestizo seat, a combination of European manufacturing techniques and technologies with materials, labor and ability of the Mexican indigenous, making it a worthy representation of Mexican cultural identity.