Napkin rings appear as single items with the name or initials of the owner, notably given as christening presents, or pairs often given as gifts at weddings and silver weddings.
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.
It is brittle and breaks into hollow, thin segments which are said to resemble napkin rings, hence its common name, the napkinring buckwheat.
A napkin may also be held together in a bundle (with cutlery) by a napkin ring.
