author
Pieter Mijer
1881–1963
A Dutch-born textile designer and batik specialist, he helped introduce and explain batik techniques to English-language readers in the early 20th century. He was also an Olympic fencer, an unusual second chapter that gives his life an extra spark.
1 Audiobook
Batiks, and how to make them
by Pieter Mijer
About the author
Born in 1881 in the Netherlands, Pieter Mijer later settled in the United States and built a career as a textile designer. He became especially known for his work with batik, the wax-resist dyeing method, and wrote Batiks and How to Make Them, a practical guide that helped share the craft with a wider audience.
Mijer's life reached beyond the studio. According to Olympedia, he learned fencing as a boy in Schiedam, emigrated to the United States in 1917 with his wife, and went on to compete in the individual épée event at the 1928 Summer Olympics.
He died in 1963, leaving behind a small but memorable legacy that connects art, craftsmanship, and sport. For readers interested in decorative arts, his work offers a glimpse into a period when traditional techniques were being rediscovered and adapted for new audiences.