LOVE SPOON SYMBOLS AND THEIR MEANINGS

The following information is an excerpt from a book titled: Celtic Carved Love spoons by Sharon Littley and Clive Griffin, Fox publishing ISBN 1-56523-209-7

1-ANCHOR

A sailor who spent a lot of time at sea often added the anchor to a love spoon. It represents a desire to settle down, but can also man a safe berth, i.e. home.

2-BALLS, SEEDS OR SPHERES

The desire to have children. The number of balls depicts the number of children. It also shows that love is cherished, and that the marriage will be blessed

3-BELL

The celebration of a wedding. It is also customary to include this on an anniversary spoon to celebrate the day the couple got married

4-BIRDS

Usually means lovebirds. They can also represent a wish for peace and tranquility throughout the couples lives. A stork shows that the happy couple have been blessed with a new arrival to the family.

5-CHAINS AND LINKS

A chain made up of a number of links represents a wish to be joined together forever and that the couple’s lives and destinies should never be separate

6-CLOVER

A wish for good luck

7-COAL AND SUGAR

A wish that the couple never lack warmth or food. The coal represents warmth, and sugar sweetness or sustenance

8-CROSS

Faith in Christ. It is used to symbolize the sanctity of marriage and God’s blessing

9-DIAMONDS

A wish for wealth and/or a desire for good fortune

10-DOLPHIN

A sailor at sea, yearning to be home with his loved one, would often carve a dolphin to represent good luck

11-DOUBLE SPOON

Two bowls on a spoon represent a desire that the couple be linked together

12-DRAGON

A sign of strength and protection. It is also the national symbol of Wales.

13-FEATHERS

When the ‘Prince of Wales’ symbol (three feathers) or fleur-de-lis is carved on a spoon it not only represents the symbol of Wales, but expresses a desire to give service. Three feathers might also represent building a nest that can be called home.

14-FLOWERS

They express affection and a wish for love to grow. A daffodil can also be the symbol of Wales and, for those of Welsh birth; it represents recognition of one’s affection for one’s country

15-FRUIT

A hope for the fulfillment of love and of one’s wishes.

16-HANDS

Express a desire for friendship

17-HEARTS

A single heart demonstrates love and a desire to win the heart of the girl for whom the spoon is intended. Two hearts joined shows that love is returned and that the couple belong together or that ‘two are as one’.

A heart-shaped bowl expresses a wish for a happy fulfilling life together.

18-HORSESHOE

A wish for good luck

19-HOUSE

A house informs the girl of the carver’s dreams that he is willing to work to provide a home and future for her

20-GLASSES AND SPECTACLES

Represents a wish of the carver to see more of the girl, and also that he likes what he sees.

21-KEYS AND KEYHOLES

When a single key features on a spoon, it indicates that the girl has won the key to the boy’s heart and to his home.

Crossed keys ask if the boy can win his girl’s heart as she has won his. They can also mean a desire for security and a wish to share a home.

22-KNIFE, FORK AND SPOON

Cutlery means that the person for whom the spoon is intended will be well provided for .

23-KNOT

Demonstrates a wish to be joined together. A Celtic Knot means a love that lasts forever

24-LANTERN

Tells a girl that the he would like to see more of her. In earlier periods, a lantern was used to ward off evil spirits, so an alternative meaning might be a wish to protect her.

25-LEEK

This is a symbol of Wales

26-LOCK

Demonstrates a wish to lock the girl into his heart forever and to look after her.

27-MIRROR

A piece of mirror on a spoon is used to avert the evil eye (a look that is supposed to have the power of inflicting harm)or to see the object of one’s affection.

28-MULTIPLE SPOONS

These represent a wish for marriage and a family. Two spoons-or bowls-are usually larger and represent husband and wife. The others are generally smaller and are said to express a wish for the same number of children.

29-PEACOCK

This lets the intended know that the gift giver will always be alert to watch over loved ones.

30-SHIELD

This symbol reassures the intended that the gift giver is willing to look after her and protect her.

31-SHIP

A sailor’s desire for a safe return home to loved ones, and a wish for a smooth voyage through life

32-SHIPS WHEEL

A safe journey through life

33-SHOES AND BOOTS

Shoes and boots have been used as symbols for good luck since biblical times. Today, a shoe is often featured as part of the decoration of a wedding cake and boots or shoes are tied to the back of the wedding car. Both express a wish for good luck in the couple’s marriage.

34-SOUL SIGN

In love spoon carving, they mean ‘I love you, heart and soul and I’d like our union to be sanctified’.

35-SPADE

A spade means ‘I want to work for you’.

36-TWISTED STEM OR SPIRAL

Whenever these are featured they demonstrate two lives becoming one, or a lasting union.

37-TREES

Symbolizes growth and fertility. A tree might also symbolize strength and durability, expressing the carver’s wish to be around for a long time to look after and care for his family.

38-VINE

Same symbolic meaning as the tree: Growth and fertility. It shows the gift giver has a sustainable love that needs to be nurtured.

39-WHEELS

They are often carved by sailors or men who worked the land and represent the gift givers desire to work hard for the girl of his dreams, and to steer her through life.

40-WHISTLE

Expresses the carver’s willingness to answer the needs of his loved one

41-WINDOWS

Carved to display messages or to insert photographs, and express a desire to watch over a loved one