This Coalport horse and rider napkin ring was a gift to me many years ago. He jumps over boxwood and faux berries onto my Christmas platters every year!
For your Christmas dinner, consider the idea of repurposing a napkin ring by transforming it into a darling “petite adornment” to enhance food on a tray or table, or even in a powder room.
Slip just a few sprigs of holly, pine or some flowers into a napkin ring, and voila! You'll have an attractive, Lilliputian-sized arrangement, and it only takes seconds to make.
A little background about napkins rings:
Napkin rings were created in France in the 19th century. Decorative napkin rings made of silver, porcelain, and other materials became popular in America, especially in the 20th century, and it continues today. Napkin rings were meant to identify napkins for family members and house guests so that the napkins could be used more than once before washing.
Mummy only used her silver napkin rings for our family or her house guests, but never for a dinner party. She adhered to the old-school rule that using a napkin ring for a dinner guest would indicate that the napkins would be reused! Those words have stayed with me, as I only use my silver napkin rings for family members or house guests too.
I started collecting polished pewter napkin rings (no polishing required!) for the birth of each grandchild with their name and birth date engraved on it.
While visiting my daughter, Alexandra, in England, I plucked some pretty pink heather from her garden and placed it inside my granddaughter’s napkin ring to adorn her pink Herend Chinese Bouquet platter for an impromptu cocktail party.
GrandMillennial Tips:
Silver napkin rings are often considered a thoughtful Christening present and appropriate for the birth of a baby. It is a lovely tradition to have them engraved to mark the baby's name and the occasion or date. It is also quite a practical gift, as the parents can use them too!
Another benefit of having napkin rings with the names or initials of family members is that children enjoy placing their personalized rings where they wish to be seated at the table, similar to a place card.
My wishes to you for a most joyous holiday with family and friends. Merry Christmas, dear ones!
Xx
Holly