My Grandfather, Len, 91, carves traditional Lovespoons in South Wales. He handmade most of his tools and the wood he carves is reclaimed from old buildings or donated by friends.
A Welsh Lovespoon is a traditional token of love. Each carved symbol has specific meaning, such as a horseshoe for good luck, a Celtic knot for togetherness, the number of balls in a cage signifies how many children they hope to have and chains for everlasting.
Each spoon he makes is bespoke and handmade for an individual; commissioned as gifts for anniversaries, weddings or visitors to Wales. Many spoons are complex, like the triple chain, carved out of one piece of wood, and takes hundreds of hours to carve.
Len Ellis 1927 - 2020