If you’ve ever paused in a Welsh gift shop, drawn in by a wooden spoon that looks far too intricate to ever stir a pot of cawl, you’ve discovered the Welsh lovespoon.
Hand-carved and rich with symbolism, lovespoons are one of Wales’ most enduring expressions of affection. They are not practical objects so much as messages – love letters shaped slowly in wood, designed to be read rather than used, and made to last far longer than flowers or chocolates ever could.
From hearth to heart: a brief history of lovespoons
The tradition of lovespoons is most commonly linked to Wales from around the 17th century, with the earliest known dated Welsh lovespoon believed to be from 1667, now held at St Fagans National Museum of History.
The story goes that a young man would carve a spoon by hand, often in the evenings, shaping it slowly to demonstrate patience, skill and devotion. It was a deeply personal gift – a way of saying something meaningful without words. Over time, these spoons evolved from functional utensils into symbolic objects, where the bowl became secondary and the handle told the story.
As the tradition developed, lovespoons became less about utility and more about meaning. Hearts, chains, keys and knots transformed each spoon into a visual language of love, commitment and hope for the future.
A language carved in wood: lovespoon symbols explained
Every lovespoon tells a story. The symbols carved into it act like a visual vocabulary, with meanings that are often layered rather than fixed. One spoon might speak of love, loyalty, protection and prosperity all at once.
Here are some of the most recognisable motifs you’ll see – and what they traditionally represent.
Hearts
The heart is the clearest declaration of love, but its style and placement matter.
A single heart speaks of affection; paired hearts suggest mutual love. Linked or pierced hearts often represent commitment, while a heart enclosed by a chain can symbolise devotion and loyalty. Traditionally, hearts were carved simply – the skill lay in shaping them cleanly without weakening the wood.
Chains
Chains symbolise strength, unity and continuity.
Each link may represent years together, children or generations, while an unbroken chain suggests a bond that endures through hardship. Chains carved from a single piece of wood are also a quiet demonstration of craftsmanship – strong, seamless, and intentional.
Keys and keyholes
Keys are symbols of trust and emotional access.
They are often read as “you hold the key to my heart,” but they can also represent opening a shared future or readiness for marriage. When paired with a heart, the message is clear and sincere – love offered deliberately, not lightly.
Celtic knots
Celtic knots symbolise eternity.
With no beginning and no end, they represent loyalty, faithfulness and love that continues beyond a single lifetime. It’s no surprise they’re popular on wedding and anniversary lovespoons.
Bells
Bells traditionally mark celebration and marriage.
They are joyful, literal symbols, often carved to commemorate engagements or weddings – a carved echo of wedding bells ringing.
Anchors
Anchors symbolise steadfastness and hope.
Historically popular with sailors, anchors speak of faithfulness during separation, stability through uncertainty, and promises kept across distance. In coastal Wales, they carry particular emotional weight.
Dragons
Few symbols are as distinctly Welsh as the dragon.
On a lovespoon, dragons represent strength, protection and national pride. To carve a dragon into a lovespoon is to root love firmly in place – a declaration that this affection is fierce, defended, and deeply connected to Wales itself.
Carved balls (often called “caged balls”)
Among the most technically impressive features on a lovespoon, these free-moving balls are carved from the same piece of wood and cannot be removed or added later.
They symbolise unity, completeness and life within life, while also serving as a subtle show of the carver’s skill and patience.
Diamonds
Diamonds represent strength, prosperity and lasting value.
They suggest ambition, resilience and hope for a stable future, and are often paired with hearts or chains to balance emotion with practicality.
Flowers
Floral motifs tend to symbolise growth and new beginnings.
Often found on spoons marking births or anniversaries, they reflect life unfolding and love deepening over time.
Wheels
Wheels represent shared journeys.
They symbolise movement through life together – its ups and downs, changes and progress,always in partnership.
Birds
Birds usually symbolise togetherness and loyalty, particularly when shown in pairs.
They can also suggest freedom within a relationship, adding softness and movement to more structured designs.
Love, the Welsh way: Dydd Santes Dwynwen
It’s no coincidence that lovespoons are often gifted around Dydd Santes Dwynwen, Wales’day of love. The story of Saint Dwynwen – who chose compassion and care over convention -mirrors the sentiment of the lovespoon itself.
This is not love shouted from rooftops, but love carved carefully, with intention and heart. A quiet declaration. A lasting promise.
Modern lovespoons and the makers keeping the tradition alive
Today, lovespoons sit somewhere between folk art and personal keepsake. They are commissioned to mark engagements, weddings, new babies, anniversaries, long-distance relationships and lifelong friendships – moments that deserve more than a generic card.
Across Wales, skilled carvers continue to keep this tradition alive:
• Richard Downes – known for beautifully crafted, bespoke lovespoons that balance tradition with personal storytelling.
• Sion Llewellyn – a Welsh carver whose thoughtful, artistic work often weaves heritage into classic symbolic forms.
• The Lovespoon Workshop (Pembrokeshire) – a long-established family workshop producing traditional and personalised designs.
• Adam King – respected for clear symbolism and carefully explained designs.
• Paul Curtis / Cadwyn Ltd – part of the wider Welsh carving scene, offering symbolic lovespoons rooted in tradition.
Want to try carving one yourself?
You don’t need to be a master woodworker to begin. Across Wales, courses offer a way into the craft:
• Spoon carving workshops at St Fagans National Museum of History appear from time to time.
• Wernog Wood in North Wales runs respected carving courses focused on traditional techniques.
• The Lovespoon Workshop also shares guidance and resources for aspiring carvers.
Be warned: it often starts with a simple spoon – and ends with you attempting a heart-through-chain-through-knot design and wondering where your weekend went.
A tradition that still speaks
In a world of instant messages and next-day delivery, lovespoons remind us that love doesn’t have to be loud to be meaningful. Sometimes it’s slow, deliberate, and shaped by hand – a Welsh tradition passed quietly through generations, still finding its place in homes and hearts today.
