“Wax,” an unusual start for a story about the Sentier de la Demi-Lune au Réservoir. But bear with me. You see, stories often have unexpected origins. Just like the water flowing beneath our feet here at the Sentier de la Demi-Lune au Réservoir, the history of this place has traveled a long and winding path.
The Sentier de la Demi-Lune au Réservoir is near the Montsouris Reservoir. This reservoir is one of Paris’s five most important drinking water reservoirs.
Imagine, if you will, that the water here could whisper its history. It would begin far away, in Indonesia. The story starts with Javanese batik. This ancient technique uses wax to dye fabric. Women used a tool called a canting. They drew intricate designs with hot wax on cotton cloth. Dyes would color the fabric where the wax wasn’t applied. This process was repeated many times. Sometimes, creating a single piece of batik took a year.
The Dutch learned about this technique in Java during the 19th century. They decided to industrialize it. A Belgian entrepreneur patented a machine. It mechanically produced batik. A Scottish merchant named Ebenezer Brown Fleming created over 200 designs. He cleverly added African motifs to appeal to his customers.
These wax-printed fabrics arrived in Africa in the 1880s. They entered through Ghana. Europeans initially targeted the elite. These people could afford luxurious textiles. Wax fabrics became popular. Soon African countries started producing their own wax prints.
Powerful women known as Nana Benz played a role. They commercialized wax fabrics in the 1950s. These women were wealthy. They even helped design patterns. One company honored the Nana Benz by creating a wax print in their name.
The word “wax” itself means “cire” in English. The beauty of Dutch wax fabric is its complexity. The fabric has no right or wrong side. The designs are imperfect. This imperfection makes it perfect. It can take up to 27 steps to produce.
Each wax print receives an inventory number. Names are given later. These names often reflect events or stories. Some wax prints reflect marital life or rivalries. “The Eye of My Rival” is a clear message. “Flytox” means “I will spray the eyes of my rival.” Some patterns relate to economic hardships. One is named “Devaluation.” It echoes the devaluation of the CFA franc in the 1990s. Wax speaks of women’s lives, politics, and daily life. The names are not given randomly. Wax is a way to communicate.
Now, what does wax have to do with the Sentier de la Demi-Lune au Réservoir? Everything. The story of wax is a story of journeys. It’s a story of cultural exchange and adaptation. It’s a story of water flowing from one source to another. Just like the water that passes through this reservoir.
This water arrives via aqueducts from the Loing, Lunain, and Voulzie rivers. It flows into basins. These basins are located in the lanternon. The lanternon is the visible structure above the reservoir. From there, the water flows through vertical pipes. It continues to the reservoir below.
This underground reservoir has a constant temperature of 12 degrees Celsius. This water is stored. It is distributed throughout Paris. The Montsouris Reservoir was built on old quarries. Nearly 1,800 pillars support the reservoir. They hold 203,000 cubic meters of water.
Consider the journey of this water. From distant rivers to the heart of Paris. The story of wax. From Indonesia to Africa. Both reflect connection. Both reflect transformation. Both come together here. At the Sentier de la Demi-Lune au Réservoir.