Vintage set of 8 original boxed bakelite coloured napkin rings, very rare. This set of stunning bakelite napkin rings or holders are in amazing original condition with the original box. It is rare to have 8 as normally there are just 6. There are various colours included.
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The box is 12 cm wide 6 cm depth 4 cm tall
The napkin rings are 5 cm wide 4 cm depth 2 cm tall
Some age related wear
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Napkin rings originated in France around 1800 and were invented by the wealthy middle class. They were used to identify napkins between washes.
How were they used?
Wealthy people would use the same napkin throughout the day
They would roll up the napkin after each meal and put it in the ring that was usually marked with their initials
When it was time for the next meal, they would take the napkin out of the ring and use it again
How did they spread?
The idea spread quickly throughout countries in the western world
They became a symbol of status and each member of the family would have their own ring
Designs varied considerably, from simple rings with initials to rings embellished with designs such as silver animals
How are they used today?
Today, napkin rings are used to make any table setting more beautiful
They are often seen as purely decorative
Other names
Napkin rings are also called serviette rings
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Napkin rings rose to popularity in the early 1800s and were an invention of the European upper classes. Originally, they were used to identify which napkin belonged to whom within the household as laundry was done once a week.
Bakelite was the first synthetic plastic, invented in 1907 by Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland. It was a durable, heat-resistant, and electrically insulating material that could be molded into many different products.
Discovery
Baekeland invented Bakelite as a substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator.
He patented his process for making Bakelite in 1909.
He founded the General Bakelite Company in the United States in 1910.
Uses
Bakelite was used in many products, including:
Phones
Radios
Coffins
Medical training equipment
Cigarette boxes
Dinnerware and cooking utensils
Knobs, dials, and circuitry panels
Automobile electrical systems
Impact
Bakelite was one of the earliest synthetic materials to transform modern life.
It was a significant advance over earlier plastics that were based on modified natural materials.
The Bakelite Corporation encouraged industrial designers to use plastics in new, streamlined shapes and colors.
Legacy
The name Bakelite has become generic, but it's also a registered trademark of Bakelite AG of Germany.
Bakelite Synthetics was established in 2021 using former Bakelite and Borden assets.
Leo Hendrik Baekeland | Science History Institute
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History and Future of Plastics
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Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org
Bakelite
History. Bakelite was produced for the first time in 1872 by Adolf von Baeyer, though its use as a commercial product was not considered at the time.