The art of table decoration has a history that goes back at least 400 years.
From the tables of royalty and nobility to the poor, setting a table for a meal takes pride, time and dedication.
We are not just talking about putting the cutlery, plates, glasses and condiments on the table; but a setting that can turn a simple meal into a banquet.
In the Middle Ages, tablecloths nearly reached the floor and served both as tablecloths and napkins.
The guests simply used the overhanging cloth to wipe their hands and mouth. Since forks had not yet been invented, a bowl of water was passed around between each course so diners could wash their hands.
Today, the fingerbowl is the only reminder of that custom.
The Italians turned napkin folding into an art form that persists today. Imagine sitting down to a meal with a napkin folded into a crown, a swan, a fan, a bird of paradise, a tulip or a shirt front.
There are napkins for formal dinner parties, buffets, weddings, children’s parties, as wine bottle coasters and to disguise a plant pot; each giving the table a special feel and ambience.
Depending on the material used to fold your napkin it will define the type of result achieved.
Linen is noted for its elegance, cotton for durability, synthetics for easy care and paper for practicality, therefore each responds differently to being folded.
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