Love Spoons by Mildred
What is a Love Spoon?
The ancient custom of giving love spoons dates to the 16th century. In Wales and other countries these spoons were carved from a single piece of wood by a young man, and presented to the girl he wished to marry. Decorative carvings were added to the spoon, the symbols having various meanings.
Love Spoons in Modern Times
A love spoon is the perfect gift for any occasion - wedding, anniversary, birthday, housewarming, new home, retirement, Valentine's Day, Christmas, Easter - to name a few.
Many tourists return from Wales with a love spoon as a souvenir.
The love spoons found here are individually hand carved, not mass produced for the tourist trade. Each is a unique piece, hand crafted and signed by the artist.
Mildred recently exhibited spoons at the "Twelve Women of Oaknoll" exhibit in Iowa City. The spoons from this exhibit are now available . Please contact me for a price quote.
Love Spoon Symbols
Love spoon symbols vary widely from one locale to another. The symbols were representative of the carver's life and interests. Some of the meanings attributed to the symbols are:
Heart - love
Key/keyhole - home, security
Chain - linking of lives
Ball in cage - captivated
Heart shaped bowl - bountiful life
Horseshoe - luck
Bell - wedding, anniversary
Leaves, flowers - nature
Vine or twisted stem - lives entwined
Traditional Celtic designs and symbols are also used, such as the Celtic knot and the Celtic cross.
Love spoons are available for sale. Please contact me by email for additional information. Each spoon is individually hand carved and finished. No two are alike. A small card comes with the spoon explaining the history of love spoons and some of the symbols.
Ball and Chain
This is my signature spoon as it has many of the elements that make love spoons unique. It has a chain, balls in a cage, a twisted stem, and a heart-shaped bowl. This spoon takes about 18 hours to carve!
