Love Spoon Information

A love spoon is a decorated wooden spoon.

The custom of giving love spoons carved by a young man and presented to his sweetheart as a token of his affection and/or betrothal originated in Wales during the 17th century. The earliest known love spoon dates from 1667 and is part of a collection at the Museum of Welsh Life in St. Fagans near Cardiff. Today, the custom has expanded to also be a gift of friendship.

The spoon may be plain or intricately decorated with various symbols - birds, hearts, wheels, balls - each representing good luck, the blessing of children, wealth, health etc.

Even the most elaborate love spoon is carved from one piece of wood, thus demonstrating the skill of the carver. Almost always it is the handle of the spoon which was decorated. Although in some examples the handle was enlarged to become a panel giving greater scope for decoration, with common forms being, piercing the panel, relief carving, fretwork, or a combination of all three.

Love Spoon Symbols & Meanings

Anchor

Steadfastness, My love is safe with you, Home to stay.

Ball in Cage

Love held safe, Years Together or Number of Children

Barley Sugar Twist

Derived from the rope theme carved by sailors.

Bell

Weddings, Anniversaries

Chain Links

Linking of Lives, No. of children , Years together

Comma Shapes

Soul Signs

Cross

Faith, Marriage

Diamond

Wealth, Good Fortune

Double Spoon

Togetherness

Dragon

Symbol of Wales, Protection

Flowers

Affection or Courtship, Friendship

Heart

My Heart is Yours, Love

Heart, Two

We feel the same about each other

Heart Shaped Bowl

Full and Bountiful Life

Horseshoe

Good Luck and Happiness

Key & Keyhole

Home & Security, My house is yours

Knot

Everlasting, together forever

Leaves

Love Grows

Ship

Smooth passage through life

Vine

Love Grows

Wheel

Willingness to work for a loved one

Double Spoons

The Couple Together Forever

Triple Spoons

Family


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