Sculptural, design-led napkin rings for festive tables
The simple napkin ring harbours the potential to bring a stylish punch of personality to any table setting
‘Tis the season for hosting – and, in our view, the secret to a design-forward table lies in the details. Yes, invest in the right cutlery and crockery, but the true joy comes from the unsung heroes of tableware: the butter dishes, the salt shakers, the napkin rings. These characterful add-ons are where you can introduce real nuance.
Read on for our selection of sleek, quirky and design-led napkin holders – small but mighty pieces to elevate your seasonal table.
This refined, artisanal-feeling napkin holder echoes Buccellati’s iconic 1960s Tahiti collection, drawn from Gianmaria Buccellati’s original designs. Crafted in sterling silver with accent materials, it conveys a natural sensibility inspired by the landscapes that once captivated Paul Gauguin.
This surrealist-inflected quartet of ceramic napkin rings brings visual intrigue to the table. Featuring two checkerboard patterns, sculpted lips and a mussel motif, the set reflects Wouters & Hendrix’s flair for whimsical, thought-provoking design.
Hand-crafted and glazed in fine porcelain, the Terra Cuff Napkin Rings draw on organic forms inspired by the earth. Their sculpted silhouettes offer a quietly expressive, artisanal elegance, while remaining durable and practical – microwave- and dishwasher-safe without sacrificing character.
These polished brass Maski napkin rings bring playful sophistication to the table, featuring mask-inspired engravings by Jaime Hayon. Their expressive lines embody Paola C’s art-driven approach, transforming functional objects into collectible pieces.
Smooth, chic and sleek, these mirror-polished stainless-steel napkin rings highlight the clean geometry and refined simplicity synonymous with Georg Jensen. The subtle art deco fluting draws from Sigvard Bernadotte’s iconic 1930s functionalist design, offering a practical yet sophisticated touch.
Balancing the crispness of the chrome tableware trend with a softened, rippled silhouette, this sterling silver napkin ring is an heirloom-quality accent. It reflects generations of craftsmanship from Vienna’s Jarosinski & Vaugoin atelier – one of Europe’s last traditional silversmiths – where each piece is meticulously handmade.
For a distinctive alternative, consider leather napkin rings. Designed by Peter Speliopoulos and handmade in Italy, these pieces come in various styles – rolled, slashed, tufted, or tooled – allowing for mix-and-match arrangements. Each ring is a celebration of texture and craftsmanship, merging traditional leatherwork with contemporary design sensibilities.
These sterling silver napkin holders reinterpret the textures of corrugated cardboard, with Rachel Whiteread capturing every groove and tear. The design transforms a fragile everyday material into an enduring, sculptural concept, crafted by Puiforcat’s artisans in the grand French silversmithing tradition.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Anna Solomon is Wallpaper’s digital staff writer, working across all of Wallpaper.com’s core pillars. She has a special interest in interiors and curates the weekly spotlight series, The Inside Story. Before joining the team at the start of 2025, she was senior editor at Luxury London Magazine and Luxurylondon.co.uk, where she covered all things lifestyle and interviewed tastemakers such as Jimmy Choo, Michael Kors, Priya Ahluwalia, Zandra Rhodes, and Ellen von Unwerth.
-
How Peter Saville came to art direct the best of contemporary cultureFrom Peter Saville's first steps with Factory Records and legendary album designs to his later work in art and fashion: we chart the history of the British art director
-
Wallpaper* Gift Guides: What our Fashion & Beauty Features Director, Jack Moss, has on his wishlistFestive gifting is about a balance of indulgence and comfort, says Wallpaper* Fashion & Beauty Features Director Jack Moss – here encapsulated in silk slippers, classic pyjamas and an oil cleanser based on ancient bathing rituals
-
This Mexico City café embraces brutalism’s warmer sideStay for breakfast, lunch and dinner at the Formant Studio-designed Marne Café, where an interior of raw finishes and tactile materials invites you to linger
-
The Wallpaper* gift guide for design devoteesWelcome to the Wallpaper* gift guide for design lovers. Whether you are gifting a design connoisseur or the detailed-obsessed, we have you covered this holiday season with expertly selected gifts from the Wallpaper team
-
Chrome tableware to make your dining setup shineOnce a hallmark of industrial and midcentury design, chrome is shining once again. The latest expression? Metallic dinner-, drink- and serveware that embody sophistication
-
Silver, steel and quartz become olfactory experiences in Georg Jensen’s home fragrance debutHome Scent marks Georg Jensen’s debut into the fragrance world, an experiential collection that brings the silversmithy to life
-
Hot metal: why shiny tableware is a holy grail of hostingFrom a silvery modernist coffee pot to a perfectly poised stainless-steel candleholder, bring glimmer to dinner with shiny metal tableware
-
Nendo and Georg Jensen create silver vases inspired by natureJapanese design studio Nendo and Danish silversmith Georg Jensen create a set of three silver vases that combine organic forms and minimalist aesthetics
-
Fantasy island: dream kitchens for creative chief cooks and brilliant bottle washers -
Bow belles: stay ahead of the curve with sensual velvets and geometric arcs -
Sloping beauty: Patricia Urquiola reaches mountain high with tableware for Georg Jensen