I’m shopping for silver napkin rings today and I hope you are up for some fun virtual shopping. Each month I pick something I am crazy about, and do some virtual shopping at Ruby Lane who sponsors this post.
I curate items that fascinate me, and silver napkin rings are something I adore. I don’t have any YET. So since I wanted to shop for myself, I thought it would be fun to do it together. Shall we?
At some point I had heard it was a faux pas to use a napkin rings during a dinner party. I never thought much about why that was. So when I started working on this post, I did some research and found out why. Long ago, they did not have paper napkins, so people always used fabric napkins. Washing machines had not been invented yet, so people reused napkins from one meal to the next, until the weekly wash day.
Napkin rings, or serviette rings, were used to designate whose napkin was whose, since you didn’t want to use someone else’s used napkin. I need a moment. Thinking of using some else’s napkin, I.can’t.even… Okay… moving on.
So using a napkin ring (at some level) implied the napkin was used, and that is why some have been opposed to using napkin rings.
So now we both know. Although it might have implied that a hundred years ago, I am 99.9% confident if you get a napkin in a napkin ring any where today, it is going to be freshly laundered.
I find them beautiful and so personal. I have no problem using napkin rings. They are so gorgeous and worthy of being displayed all of the time. I love the idea seeing a bowl full of napkin rings. You could even display them in a little cabinet.
Each one is so elegant and a work of art. According to Wikipedia (Don’t judge, I had difficulty finding the information elsewhere) napkin rings were not originally made by the set since each person needed a unique one. They were often given as a christening present or sometimes as a pair for a wedding gift. So if you find a set of 6 or 8, they are probably from the 20th century. They were invented by the European Bourgeoisie, first appearing in France around 1800. Most made in the 19th century were made of sterling silver or silver plate.
The prices vary greatly.
Each of these lovelies is available on Ruby Lane. You can click on the title or the photo to see the listings with the details.
Antique Coin Silver Napkin Ring
Sterling Silver detailed Antique Napkin Ring
Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Napkin Ring, Engraved E.F.
Antique French Sterling Silver Napkin Ring Holder from Early 19C “DC”
1898 English Sterling Silver Napkin Ring
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For the blog at Ruby Lane, CLICK HERE.
So interesting! I had never heard of that- Still think they are lovely and don’t think my guests will mind if I put them out lol
We don’t use napkin rings for guests unless they are staying over. Otherwise we use napkin rings daily for our own napkins. It is so very wasteful to use paper napkins or to launder a 99% clean linen napkin. Unless there’s been a messy sauce, we re-use!
A nice piece of history I did not know. I am in love with the Antique Victorian Sterling Silver Napkin Ring, Engraved E.F. Beautiful!! Can’t wait to see what you pick!!
That was very interesting. All of the napkin rings you selected are so lovely. It will be a difficult choice.
I didn’t know this,thank you. I looked at the rings from Ruby Lane, I had no idea…that they could cost so much! They are beautiful. Thanks for the history lesson….good to know.
Nancy
wildoakdesigns.blogspot.com
Very cool info. on the napkin ring, the ones your showing are pretty cool looking.
Have a great day.
That was a very interesting napkin ring post. I do use napkin rings (not as beautiful as the ones you posted) during the holidays but they all match. Thanks so much for the info.