The fine art of napkins. Art that you can wipe your mouth with. The Art Institute currently has 11 napkins in their permanent collection. The height of the napkin collecting craze occured from 1983 to 1996. Nine of the eleven napkins were folded into the Art Institute collection during this 13-year span. (the other two napkins coming in at 1947 and 1972).
Why would the Art Institute catch the napkin fever during the 1980s and early 1990s? Perhaps the Art Institute has actually only dipped their toes into the napkin world. 7,858 textiles are in the Art Institute’s collection. Just one-tenth of a percent of their textiles are napkins. Out of every 700 pieces of textile art in their collection, there is one napkin. One.
Given the rarity of napkins in the Art Institute’s collection, let’s take a look at each one. Along with each napkin is my commentary on its significance in the lore of napkin history.
France
You’d have to think that someone stole this napkin while at the Louis XIV’s wedding. Do you think it was customary in the 1600s to take the wedding napkins home with you?
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Napkin from the Linnelinjen (Linen Line), 1955
Designed by Astrid Sampe (Swedish, 1909–2002)
Sweden, Dalsjöfors
The four bars signify the four course meal served with this napkin. For every course, you wipe your mouth on one of the bars. This particular napkin has been laundered, thus, you cannot see what was served at this particular meal. A shame, really.
Napkin, c. 1800
Produced by David Dewar Son & Sons
Scotland, Dunfermline
I’d like to have the napkin professor from the school of napkinology explain the signficance of the the pattern of this napkin
Napkin Depicting The Five Senses, 1891
Designed by Walter Crane
England, London
A napkin for the five senses. We often think of napkins being for taste. But what if we had a napkin for hearing? After going to a loud rock concert (or in this case, in the 1800s a raucous classical concert) you would wipe your ears from the intensity.
Napkin, c. 1904
Designed by Joseph Maria Olbrich (German, 1867–1908)
Germany, Mathildenhöhe, Darmstadt
I have a feeling that Joseph Maria Olbrich knew about the Transformers before we did.
Napkin, c. 1900
Designed by Walter Crane
English, 1845–1915
Can we get out the blacklight? I feel like there is a hidden image in here.
Napkin, c. 1600
Flanders or Netherlands
This comes from the time when napkins were made from xeroxed blueprints.
Napkin, c. 1665
Northern Netherlands, Castle Nienoor (Provenance of Groningen) near Midwolde where they were buried near the church
This napkin was used for children as it gave them a maze to figure their way through.
Napkin, 1699
1989.555
Possibly Netherlands
The precursor to folding paper towels.
Napkin, 18th century
Germany
This section of Germany was known for their burly industrial workers. They were such big eaters that cloth napkins were not sufficient for their verocious appetites. Instead, they turned to using carpeting to brush the food from their face.
Napkin, 1901/50
Italy, probably Venice or Burano
The invisible napkin. No photo available.
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The 11 napkins of @artinstitutechi http://t.co/VHdArx22qr pic.twitter.com/m7FbL1nxTm
— Spudart Matt Maldre (@spudart) March 3, 2015