El mantel es una cubierta de lino, algodón, plástico u otra materia, que se coloca en la mesa para comer. Es por tanto, el vestido principal de la mesa. Es innumerable la cantidad de diseños y características posibles ya sea para comidas familiares o incluso para aquellas con mayores exigencias protocolarias. Las primeras suelen ser más informales, se rigen principalamente por la practicidad y funcionalidad, sin embargo, las segundas siguen las directrices de la estética, corrección y estilo sin perder de vista el aspecto funcional que toda mesa debe tener. En relación con este último apartado nace la mantelería como arte.

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A tablecloth is a cloth used to cover a table. Some are mainly ornamental coverings, which may also help protect the table from scratches and stains. Other tablecloths are designed to be spread on a dining table before laying out tableware and food. Ornamental tablecloths can be made of almost any material, including delicate fabrics like embroidered silk. Dining cloths are typically made of cotton, a poly-cotton blend, or a PVC-coated material that can be wiped clean, but they can range from functional coverings to fine textiles, as long as they can be laundered. Some cloths are designed as part of an overall table setting, with coordinating napkins, placemats, or other decorative pieces. Special kinds of tablecloth include runners which overhang the table at two ends only and table protectors to provide a padded layer under a normal cloth.

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