The ancient Chinese of the 2nd century BC invented paper and used it for writing, drawing and money. And as you may expect, it took no time at all for the high society mavens to introduce small square paper napkins for the serving of tea; as was discovered in a description of the possessions of the 2nd century Yu family from Hangzhou.

Today’s cocktail napkins are direct descendants of  those original Chinese tea napkins. They are still small squares, usually around 9” square or smaller, and are used by everyone from restaurants and bars, to home parties of all kinds. They prevent condensation rings on table tops, bars and furniture as well as providing a means of drying your hands from the condensation on the glasses.

Cocktail napkins come in an endless selection of colours, and beautiful prints. They can tastefully enhance the theme of any get-together or create a fun atmosphere by choosing ones with funny graphics or pithy sayings.

It wasn’t until over 500 years after the Chinese invented paper that paper spread to the Islamic world, and another 500 years after that before it reached Europe. In the interim, various forms of bread and cloth were used to wipe one’s hands and mouths, including the Roman ‘mappa’.  The mappa was a multi-functional piece of cloth meant to protect the arms of couches while dining during orgies and to provide the orgyers a means to wipe off food. Since everyone brought their own mappa, they became the first doggie bags when they were used to wrap up and take home some of the delicacies that were served during the orgy.

Throughout the Middle Ages in Europe, eating with one’s hands and fingers was the norm, so depending on the sensibilities and social status of the diners, various forms of large cloths (35” x 48”) and flattened bread were used to wipe off the significant messiness of an entire meal.

The arrival and general acceptance by European society of the fork in the 1700s as well as the evolution of dining etiquette, brought about the arrival of neatness to dining. Gone were the tablecloth sized cloth napkins which were gradually replaced by paper napkins of much daintier sizes. But the paper napkin was mostly dismissed as frivolous and unnecessary for the next 200 years until the Japanese market introduced napkins with printed messages/logos/images near the end of the 19th century. 

1. Cloth Napkins

While cloth napkins (by now made of linen) remained in constant use for the etiquette-minded social circles, it wasn’t until shortly after the arrival of the printed napkins near the end of the 1800s that American etiquette authority, Emily Post, proclaimed that paper napkins were preferable over linen for all but the finest of occasions. With this pronouncement from the highly respected Miss Post, paper napkins finally took hold and became de rigeur throughout society.

Today, there are several primary types of paper napkins available: dinner napkins, lunch napkins, cocktail napkins and inlaid napkins. Which one to use? Well, one must decide if the affair is formal or informal, and whether the napkin need be only functional or should it be an enhancement to the table setting.

 2. Paper Napkins

Unless you are expecting the Queen of Sheba for dinner, then paper napkins, as opposed to linen, are perfectly appropriate. There are enough fancy embossed designs and beautiful patterns and imagery to satisfy the most discriminating dinner guest. Usually around 16” x 6”, dinner napkins are noticeably larger than luncheon napkins, which check in around 11” x 13”. 

3. Airlaid Napkins

One of the most important category of napkins is airlaid napkins. They look well presentable on the serving table and are easy to use. Airlaid napkins come also in environmentally friendly options so they are also good for bio-degradation properties. They are easy to wrap around wide range of flatware. 

4. Napkin Dispensers

Last but certainly not least are the dispensers/holders of all these different napkins. Like the napkins themselves, the dispensers/holders can be as functional or as beautiful as the napkins it holds. Available in a variety of materials from wrought iron, to chromed tubing and in every imaginable rectangular shape, they boast all the colour and graphic design needed to fit any and all occasions.