Reproductions: Figural Napkin Rings

Napkin rings first appeared in France about 1800 and their use soon spread to other countries. In a proper middle-class family, cloth napkins were used for an entire week between washdays, with each family member keeping their same napkin. Each ring had a different mark or design to identify whose napkin it held. Soon napkin […]

Napkin Rings: Fanciful Links to a Different Era

Napkin rings played a practical role in 19th-century Europe. Linens (including napkins) were usually washed once a week. The napkin ring held each family member’s used napkin between meals. The most popular rings with collectors are the silver-plated figural examples, like those featured in a recent sale by Morphy Auctions of Pennsylvania. They sold for […]