Lovespoon

Lovespoons have been carved for centuries by the menfolk of Wales and were never intended for use in the kitchen – their beautiful decorations are symbols of love, reflecting the skill of the carver and their desire to care and provide for their sweetheart. Some designs carry messages in their carved objects – horseshoes for luck, bells for marriage and anchors to represent sailor suitors far away at sea. The earliest surviving lovespoon dates from 1667 and is kept at the National Museum of Wales at St Fagans.