Is There A Paramour Under Your Palampore?
Let me make one thing perfectly clear. There is NO paramour under MY palampore!
However, this is as good a time as any to discuss definitions! To verify the meaning of the word, “paramour,” I consulted the dictionary. The description given is this: “an illicit lover esp. of a married person.”
On the other hand, a “palampore” (not found in the dictionary) is a word that denotes an antique, hand-painted textile, usually made in India, and traditionally, exported (primarily) to England.
There are some links to lovely examples held in museums, on this Wikipedia page:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palampore
As its central design, a palampore often featured a tree. In some circles, this sometimes has been referred to as “The Tree of Life.” An example of a tree-bearing palampore is shown on the website of the International Quilt Study Center, and listed as having been made between 1750 and 1770.
http://www.quiltstudy.org/quilts/search.html
What is the reason for calling the words “paramour” and “palampore” to your attention? Recently, a wonderful report about a meeting for individuals who love to view antique quilts was published on an online list. The writer, whose name need not be divulged, stated that, “At show and tell, we saw a stenciled and painted paramour, recently found in a box labeled ‘tablecloths’.”
The author of this comment profusely apologized to the readers of her message. No penance was meted out. I’m sure that no one laughed at her, but I am certain that we chuckled with her.
For me, who loves words, this is yet another chance to be sure that I know those words well enough to explain them to you.
A paramour under the palampore? Perhaps not, but this could be the start of a new fantasy for many middle aged women who read this message. Truth be known, my fantasy is to actually see an antique palampore someday.
Patricia Cummings
