Portiere
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A portiere is a hanging placed over a door, as its French name implies, or over the doorless entrance to a room. From Asia it came to Europe at a remote date. It is known to have been in use in Europe in the 4th century, and was probably introduced much earlier. Like so many other domestic plenishings, it reached England by way of France, where it appears to have been originally called rideau de Porte. It is still extensively used either as an ornament or as a means of mitigating drafts. It is usually of some heavy material, such as velvet, brocade, or plush, and is often fixed upon a brass arm, moving in a socket with the opening and closing of the door.
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
In Margaret Mitchell's "Gone with the Wind", Scarlett makes a new dress from her mother's green velvet portieres.
