Portières a plenty!
Who doesn’t remember the movie ‘Gone With the Wind’ & Scarlet O’Hara’s emerald green dress made from her mother’s portières?!! I doubt there’s a garment more immortalized on earth! But, let’s chat a bit about that word, shall we?
A portière is technically a hanging curtain placed over a door OR an opening into a room. Derived from the French word porte [door], portières were extremely popular during the Victorian era & yards of draping material was used to stop drafts, provide warmth from drafts & even dampen sounds between adjoining rooms—and besides their utilitarian use, portieres also brought ‘eye-candy’ and status, if you will, to the wealthier Victorian homes.
The home owner enjoyed the inviting, softening statements as their guests sashayed from room to room. Most portières were made from velvets and brocades to polished silks and satins. And the more expensive, the better!! And added embellishments of bullion fringe, or gold cording proclaimed great prestige to the home owner.
Some even used decorations of strung wooden, ivory, or jet beading. Even seashells!!
So, back to that famous emerald green dress worn by Scarlett…in the book version of GWTW, Margaret Mitchell correctly used the word CURTAIN!
however…in the movie version, the term portière was used INcorrectly by both Scarlett & Mammy: ’cause they were talking about green velvet WINDOW curtains — not portières, which, as we now know was the Victorian word used to describe draperies IN DOORWAYS.
So, the next time you see the movie…now you'll know the truth.
~ Cindy
Cindy Nord / Bestselling Historical Romance Writer & USA Today Lifeblog 'Recommended Read' Author
Come visit me at my website for more historical tidbits...☺
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