A Thrift Shop Discovery That Will Make You Nostalgic for Yesteryear!

Source: Florarte Decoracion

I still recall the Sunday lunchings which usually took place at a large and polished wooden table of my grandmother’s. The scent of roasting chicken and cakes wafted through the air and each chair at the table was taken by someone that seems to be someone I know. There was always something that I always noticed and that was the small aspects of the meal that made it even more attractive. One of those details was the set of napkin rings which she would usually lay on each plate. This was such a simple thing but as a child I remember thinking that it was a rather fine touch that lifted each meal a little bit. All the napkin rings were unique; some were plated, some were of wood, and some had very elaborate designs on them and each and every one of them bore the feel of being something that had been inherited.

This is why it was refreshing to find a set of wooden napkin rings at a thrift shop recently and to be reminded of all of that. The rings were plain, and not flashy at all, similarities to the ones my grandmother wore, with a middle circle that looked like plastic. They were not gaudy but they possessed a certain old-fashioned appeal that perfectly captured the concept of minimalism, the beauty of full-throttle, where even the simplest products used in the home were made with passion and precision.

Napkin rings are not new, they were first used in France during the early part of 19 century. During the time when the linens were used over and over again and cleaned only once in a day, napkin rings served the purpose of distinguishing whose napkin was whose. This practicality however was not to last very long as people soon began to find it as a way of expressing themselves creatively. Napkin rings became a standard part of Victorian table service, and were produced in costly metals or porcelain and often decorated with engravings.

The cultural importance of these what appear to be trivial objects is the fact that they capture the social etiquette system of the day. For instance, during the Victorian era, there was great emphasis on etiquette and dinners and therefore, napkin rings became fashionable and depicted politeness and welcome. Every person would get a clean and well ironed napkin which had to be held in a ring occasionally matching the host’s preference or the affluence of the family. The rings were not only to wear— they were a symbol of wealth and style.

Napkin rings were also utilized at home as home entertaining became much rife by the mid 20th century. This time, though, they had adopted the principles of the modern design which don’t include many frills and are characterized by the concise lines, natural textures, and reduced embellishments. Wooden napkin rings for instance the ones that I came across became popular due to the fact that they gave a simple yet elegant feel that matched the casual dining culture of that era. They were no longer used only when sitting for formal dinners but they had become a part of everyday use and was used to enhance the look of even the plainest of dishes.

These days, old school napkin rings are not only a piece of antique that has gone out of style but a symbol of the society that paid attention to the finer things. In a society where people value convenience more than aesthetics, it is always nice to go back and look for these little gems. It gives one a feeling of the past, and a level of class that could be used to add a certain touch of class to today’s dining experience.

So the next time you buy a set of napkin rings from a thrift shop or find one set on the shelf of your relatives’ home, do not think that it is old-fashioned and useless. Instead, consider them as a part of history, a relic of the era of entertaining and possibly as a method to incorporate some of that era’s elegance to your table. At times, it is the least of the concerns that produce the most significant results.