The Origins of the Tablecloth

Tablecloths date back to Medievel times and beyond.  People often traveled from village to village and home to home and sometimes, from castle to castle.  They often had to stop and camp out along the way when the distances were greater than they could walk or ride in a day.  During these trips, food items were usually carefully wrapped in cloth and put in baskets or other carrying satchels such as a parfleche box. 

The cloth was often spread upon the ground to keep the laid out food from getting dirty.  Upon arriving at their destination, they would unfold the cloth again and lay it over the table to lay out the food items they had brought with them.  The unfolded "table cloth" also served as a napkin so the person could wipe their hands during and after their meal.  Afterwards the leftovers would be wrapped again, (in the same, now soiled cloth) and returned to it's carrying article. 

Just as fashions changed and evolved through the decades, so did the tablecloth.  Oilcloth was often used because it resisted spills.  Spilled fluids could be wiped clean if it was caught fast enough and hadn't been allowed to penetrate through the oil.  But women have always wanted more than just the dull serviceable items in their kitchens and dining rooms.  Printed table cloths were very popluar and changed with the fashions of the age as well as the printing techniques and technology advancements.

Prohibition in the 1920's led to elaborate cocktail parties in the private home.  During this time period, it was "polite" to use white or pastel damask for tablecloths.  But these cocktail parties could get a little disorderly and so printed materials became widely poplular.  This allowed the host or hostess of the home to observe the niceties of the period without ruining her damask linens that were demanded to be used for more formal affairs.   

Today, tablecloths have evolved.  They aren't just practical or just fashionable anymore! 

 "An electronically enhanced tablecloth designed to cover a kitchen or dining room table that glows beneath objects, creating a visual halo that expands very slowly. when items are removed, the glow fades quickly. by signalling how long things have been left upon it, the tablecloth highlights the 'flow' of objects over surfaces in the home. being able to see this hidden dimension of the home might be thought-provoking or simply enjoyable: people might be reminded to tidy up more often, or become reluctant to move things lest they disrupt the patterns they form. the Tablecloth is made using electroluminescent material printed onto a flexible substrate"

http://infosthetics.com/archives/2006/08/history_tablecloth.html

We've come a long way from medieval times and oilcloths!  We hope you enjoy our lovely table linens.  Be sure to look for matching glassware!  Remember, Fun is the first word of Functional!