Canton-Flannel Portiéres (1880)

(My next few projects will be to make curtains for our front hall and library, and portiéres for several door openings. I'll be posting some excerpts on the subject of window and door hangings from various historic sources. -TPR)

Among upholstery goods there is a remarkable variety now, and the materials, prices, and designs, vary to such extent that hardly any one can fail to find something to suit her taste or the length of her purse...

Double faced Canton-flannel comes in a variety of rich dark shades, including garnet, claret, olive, golden, and chocolate browns, myrtle, and blue greens, Prussian blue, etc., as well as in pink and other light tints. It is 60 inches wide, and 88 cts. per yard. This hangs in heavy and graceful folds, and is as rich in effect as expensive cloths or felts.

Figure 1 represents a portiére, or door curtain, made of the double-faced Canton-flannel. The middle of the curtain is of Prussian blue, with a 12 inch border of “old gold” color at top and bottom. Five rows of alpaca braid, and leaf-shaped ornaments (made of shaded double zephyr) complete the trimming. The braid which comes next to the gold-colored band should be red, the next one white, next dark green, then brown, and last, black. The leaves, of shaded red double zephyr, are made by catching the zephyr down at each point, and at the places where it curves out from the middle of the leaf, by stitches of gold-colored silk floss. This makes quite an elegant curtain at small expense. Of course the colors may be varied to suit the room in which it is to be used.

from "Hints on Home Adornment" (Godey's Lady's Book, June 1880)