19th C Welsh Love Spoon.

A charming antique Welsh love spoon that is carved from a single piece of wood.

A fairly modern tradition is to give love spoons as wedding presents but this isn’t their original intended purpose. Originally, Welsh love spoons were given like love letters, with the carved decorations having various meanings.

Examples include hearts carved into the spoon meaning true love, the Celtic knot meaning eternal love and the anchor meaning steadfastness and the desire to settle down. Of course, various symbols can mean different things to different people, for example spoons that have balls carved into the stem purportedly mean it’s the amount of children one wanted to have with the recipient but that’s often a bit of a folk art story rather than direct symbolism. 

This example is carved from a single piece of wood with a central heart symbolising love and commitment, a wheel to symbolise eternity and quatrefoil leaves symbolising soul. Above these it’s been sealed centrally with red wax. 

It measures approximately 14 cm high and 5 cm wide. 

Welsh, likely late 19th, possibly early 20th C.

Worldwide delivery available, not included in the price. Please contact us for a delivery quote before purchasing or arrange to collect from our London gallery by appointment.