Napery is another term for linen

Linen

Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....

 used for household purposes, such as table linen

Tablecloth

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....

. Historically it was the office in a medieval

Middle Ages

The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...

 household responsible for the washing and storage of these items. It was headed by a naperer. This office worked closely together with the offices of the laundry

Laundry

Laundry is a noun that refers to the act of washing clothing and linens, the place where that washing is done, and/or that which needs to be, is being, or has been laundered...

 (washing and storage of clothing

Clothing

Clothing refers to any covering for the human body that is worn. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic and is a feature of nearly all human societies...

) and the ewery

Ewery

A ewery was the office in a medieval household responsible for water and the vessels for drinking or washing of the person. The word comes from 'ewer', a sort of pitcher. This office was not responsible for laundry, which was handled by the offices of laundry and napery . The three offices did work...

(water and the vessels for drinking or washing of the person), and the three could be concurrent in smaller households.