Welsh Lovespoons from Welsh Gifts

A Welsh love spoon is an ornately carved spoon traditionally made from a single piece of wood by young men, especially in Wales, as a token for their sweethearts, to show their affection and intentions.

The earliest surviving example, displayed in the Welsh Folk museum in Cardiff, dates from around 1667, although the tradition probably dates back long before that.

The love spoon originated from the 'cawl' (soup) spoon. Over generations, decorative carvings were added to the spoon and it lost its original practical use and became a treasured decorative item to be hung proudly on a wall. Certain symbols came to have specific meanings: a horseshoe for luck, a cross for faith and marriage, or hearts for love.