What is a Doily?   A doily (or doyley) is a small ornamental mat usually made of cotton or linen placed underneath a dish or bowl. Openwork allows the table surface to show through. In addition to their decorative function, doilies have a utilitarian role, protecting fine wood furniture from scratches from crockery. Many people have a collection of heirloom doilies crocheted by their grandmothers and ancestors. Their delicate nature makes for a sense of pride in having kept them for generations. Consequently, old doilies are valued far more than new ones. In more recent times, paper doilies have become common, and are often used to decorate a plate of food, underlying the food for ornamentation. Originally the name of a fabric, from Doiley, a 17th-c London draper.