In the dining room at Castle Fraser, these was a lovely display of folded napkins and an explanation about the history of napkins and the folding of them.
In the past, instead of using cutlery to pick up food, people used their hands, and in order to clean their fingers they used a soft bread dough. This was the first 'napkin'. Then the shift of the napkin from a simple folded cloth to a folded art object came in the 16th Century in Florence.
At Castle Fraser there was a table in the corner of the dining room where you could practise some napkin folding - with instructions to help. I thought it was a great idea!
Oh Issi! I'm up late tonight, and when I read your note about folding napkins, I didn't quite understand! NOW I get it!!! How absolutely adorable those are!!! YES, I have tureens (that are useless on the dining table in this day and age!) and many cloth napkins (that we still love to use!) I see next year's Easter centerpiece... I love it!
@ludwigsdiana Ditto on the fancy napkin folding, though I got out *my napkin-folding book* to share with Dylan the last time he visited! The younger generations don't seem to want the silver and china, much less, cloth napkins, so I use it all, and so what if it should break! No more "saving things" for anyone unless they ask for it! (at which time it's theirs!) Good night!
Very interesting. Yes fabric napkins have really gone out of fashion these days. I remember making those napkin 'swans', but were they paper - I can't remember!
I saw this earlier while looking at the TP but didn't notice it was your photo. I thought "rabbits." What fun. And interesting facts about napkins. No wonder we sop up good sauces with a heel of bread.
That's so cute! I use linen napkins and when not using napkin rings, I do fold them in creative ways- I've been doing that since 1978 when Jeff and I were married! Great shot.
I have a book on napkin folding as I have always only used cloth napkins and still do. I have given up on the folding though ;-)
Love the bunny ears