For quite a few centuries, napkins have played a crucial role at the dinner table. They protect diner\u2019s clothing, sop up spills, and wipe away remains from the hands and face. But during the 19th century, they had a much-needed partner: the napkin ring.<\/p>\n
As we briefly touched upon in last week\u2019s post, laundry in the 1800s was a significantly more arduous chore than it is today. Items were hand washed, either in personal laundry rooms or taken to a laundry service, rung out, and left to air dry. To save time and protect the linens themselves, dinner napkins were only washed once a week. Dinner napkins were large compared to today\u2019s paper counterparts, a trait that allowed them to be used throughout the week. But nobody wants to wipe their mouth with someone else\u2019s dirty cloth, so a solution was created in the form of napkin rings.<\/p>\n
These rings, typically made from silver or silver plate during the Victorian period, were personalized to sort any confusion. Some were engraved with numbers, while others were monogrammed with initials or even names. No matter the marking, all would ensure that a diner did not use another\u2019s napkin.<\/p>\n
This cylindrical silver band has two striated rings surrounding an engraved center. An intricately engraved hexagonal cartouche is flanked on both sides with geometric and foliate designs. Monogrammed in the hexagon, in delicate cursive, is \u201cD.A. Brayton Jr\u201d. This ring was personalized for David Anthony Brayton Jr (1855-1913), eldest son of David Anthony Brayton Sr (1824-1881) and Nancy Roxanna (Jenckes) Brayton (1827-1909). David resided at his family\u2019s home, currently the FRHS, from 1878 until his death. With six people regularly sitting down at the dinner table, it would have been vital to differentiate David\u2019s napkin from those of his family or guests. This napkin ring would ensure that no one confused their table linens.<\/p>\n
David\u2019s is not the only napkin ring we have in our collection. We have that of David\u2019s sister, Elizabeth \u2018Lizzie\u2019 Hitchcock Brayton (1865-1935). Perhaps one day we\u2019ll have the entire family\u2019s napkin rings!<\/p>\n
For quite a few centuries, napkins have played a crucial role at the dinner table. They protect diner\u2019s clothing, sop up spills, and wipe away remains from the hands and face. But during the 19th century, they had a much-needed partner: the napkin ring. As we briefly touched upon in last week\u2019s post, laundry in…<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lizzieborden.org\/TinyTuesdays\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/306776555_5992162430812772_8278769829608105102_n.jpg\")
<\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lizzieborden.org\/TinyTuesdays\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/306972518_5992161210812894_319152089835909330_n.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"