Nowadays, napkins have become an important part of people's daily life, which can help us maintain cleanliness during meals and prevent food residue from dirtying clothes or tables. But do you know how napkins were invented? Who invented the first napkin? In this article, we will explore it.
Napkin definition
A napkin or serviette is a square of cloth or paper tissue used at the table for wiping the mouth and fingers while eating. It is usually small and folded, it can come in intricate designs and shapes. It's versatile enough to handle everyday meals with family and friends. So these napkins can be used for wedding, restaurants, dinner, bathroom and more occasions. To learn more, click napkin definition.
When were cloth napkins invented? Who invented the first napkin?
There are three theories about inventing napkins. The origin of napkin has gone through a long historical development time. And now they have now become an important part of people's life.
In ancient China
The use of paper napkins is documented in ancient China, where paper was invented in the 2nd century BC. Paper napkins were known as chih pha, folded in squares, and used for the serving of tea. Textual evidence of paper napkins appears in a description of the possessions of the Yu family, from the city of Hangzhou.
In 1491
It has been claimed that Leonardo da Vinci invented the napkin in 1491. According to this claim, the Duke of Milan, Ludovico Sforza, used to tie up live rabbits decorated with ribbons to the guest’s chairs so they could wipe their hands on the animal’s back. Leonardo found this inappropriate, and presented a cloth for each guest.
The myth stems from Leonardo's Kitchen Notebooks (1987), by Jonathan Routh and Shelagh Routh, a prank book published as an April Fools’ Day joke, that claims a long lost Codex Romanoff was found in 1481, which never really existed.
In the 16th century
In the 16th century, Europe began producing cloth napkins for wiping the mouth and hands. The original napkins were made of cotton and linen, which were softer and more durable. However, these napkins are still very expensive and only wealthy people can use them.
The invention of paper napkins can be traced back to the early 19th century. At that time, people used cloth towels or handkerchiefs during meals, but they were not hygiene and they are required frequent cleaning, making them very inconvenient to use. Therefore, people began to search for a more convenient and hygiene stuff.
In 1844, a British person named Jonathan Kirsten invented an item called "steam paper", which is a type of paper made of wood pulp that can be used to wipe mess and clean windows. He discovered that this type of paper was very absorbent and could absorb moisture and oil well, so he began to think about how to use this paper for dining tables.
Kirsten's invention quickly became popular and he began producing and selling this type of tissue. Initially, this type of tissue was called a "Kirsten tissue", but later renamed as a "napkin" and became very popular.
Who invented the napkin in America?
Paper napkins were first imported to the US in the late 1800s but did not gain widespread acceptance until 1948, when Emily Post asserted, "It's far better form to use paper napkins than linen napkins that were used at breakfast."
Who invented the sanitary napkin for periods and what year?
Napkin may also be short for "sanitary napkin". The real sanitary napkin, or disposable diaper, was invented in 1842 by Benjamin Franklin. Franklin's sanitary napkin was made of cloth and featured an absorbent layer between two layers of waterproof fabric.
Who invented the napkin ring?
Napkin rings are an invention of the European bourgeoisie, first appearing in France about 1800 and soon spreading to all countries in the western world. Most 19th century napkin rings were made of silver or silver plate, but others were made in bone, wood, pearl embroidery, porcelain, glass, and other materials. In the 20th century, bakelite and other new materials were used.
