A 1939 Napkin-Folding Technique

vintage napkin fold
This entry is part 1 of 3 in the series A Retro Table Setting

Books from 1939 don’t have infographics. There’s no step-by-step instructions with photos telling you exactly how to fold a napkin.

So I have no idea if I did this right.

Truth be told, I was looking for a truly outlandish napkin-folding technique, but now I think that super-old etiquette books aren’t the place to find such things. In fact, this one states very specifically: “Fancy foldings have gone out of fashion.” I guess I’ll check the ‘70s to see if that’s when crazy napkin folding had its heyday.

I think this fold is rather handsome — the lines are reminiscent of a man’s tie. What do you think: Are you into it, or or do you think it’s dated?

If you’d like to try it yourself, here are the instructions from Emily Posts’s 101 Common Mistakes in Etiquette — And How to Avoid Them below. (Btw, how modern is that title? A list! About avoiding mistakes! Emily Post knew what she was doing.)

A smaller napkin is folded in four, with monogram toward lower edge of plate; then bend about one third of the top corner forward in a sharp crease, the point of this crease coming just above the monogram. Now roll under (do not sharply crease) the two side corners. You get a soft roll on your plate with the top looking like a turned down pointed collar, the bottom of it of course left as it was, and the two sides rolled under.

Obviously, I had to ignore the bit about the monogram.

If there’s a demand, you might be able to coax me into creating an infographic for this….

Here’s the (Instagrammed) finished effect of the table. (Forthcoming, a post on that barely visible centerpiece.) And follow me on Instagram if you like!

Fancy napkin folding

Series Navigation I Was Totally Wrong About That 1939 Napkin Technique >>

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