A Welsh lovespoon is a decorative spoon carved from a single piece of wood (a common choice of wood being sycamore). In the past, a male suitor would carve a lovespoon with his romantic interest in mind. He used simple tools, like a small knife, to craft not only the spoon, but also intricate designs in the handle. Once complete, he would give the spoon to the woman he loved. If she accepted the gift, they could begin courting.
The gifting of lovespoons is a long-standing tradition in Wales. The oldest lovespoon in the collection at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales dates back to 1667. In modern times, lovespoons are often given as wedding, anniversary, birthday, and christening presents.
Carvers put a great deal of time and effort into their lovespoons, wanting to create beautiful art that symbolizes their affection for the person they will give it to. Each lovespoon is different, capturing both the heart of the carver and the beloved. The symbols carved into the handle are personal and are generally thought to reflect the emotions of the carver. Historical symbols include hearts (love), chain links (loyalty), balls in a cage (number of children), and diamonds (prosperity).
To see more photos of Welsh lovespoons in the collection at Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales, click here. To have a bit of fun creating a virtual lovespoon and emailing it to a friend, click here.
Photo credit: photo of a Welsh lovespoon by Hayley Finn via Flickr, licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
