"Foxy" the Welsh Lovespoon

Name: "Foxy" the Welsh Lovespoon
Brand: Antique
SKU: SA858346
Availability: SoldOut

19th century

Sold by Havard and Havard

Description

Zoomorphic lovespoons are very uncommon and this one with its fox cresting is especially rare.

This is one of a group of striking, naively carved love spoons often of large scale, made in Carmarthenshire at the end of the 19th century.

Mostly made from thick sycamore boards but pine and presumably other woods were also used.

This spoon uses both; the upper part is sycamore and the almost square block on which it sits, is made of pine.

We have seen a number of spoons from this group carved with animal heads, (cats and rabbits), in a simple, one dimensional fashion, with round-headed metal studs for eyes. “Foxy” is most unusual in being entirely in the round.

Like many in this group, the finish appears to be a varnish of some sort which has “blistered” giving it its characteristic crusty surface.

Apart from the floret at the top of the column, the decoration is largely a combination of vigorously executed chip carving in a chevron pattern and a series of feather like incised lines which allow the focal point of the spoon, the carved and red painted figure of “Foxy”, to stand out.

Physical Dimensions

Height

38cm (14.96")

Width

28cm (11.02")

Depth

10cm (3.94")

Declaration

Havard and Havard has dated this piece to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA858346

Description

Zoomorphic lovespoons are very uncommon and this one with its fox cresting is especially rare.

“

This is one of a group of striking, naively carved love spoons often of large scale, made in Carmarthenshire at the end of the 19th century.

Havard and Havard

Mostly made from thick sycamore boards but pine and presumably other woods were also used.

This spoon uses both; the upper part is sycamore and the almost square block on which it sits, is made of pine.

We have seen a number of spoons from this group carved with animal heads, (cats and rabbits), in a simple, one dimensional fashion, with round-headed metal studs for eyes. “Foxy” is most unusual in being entirely in the round.

Like many in this group, the finish appears to be a varnish of some sort which has “blistered” giving it its characteristic crusty surface.

Apart from the floret at the top of the column, the decoration is largely a combination of vigorously executed chip carving in a chevron pattern and a series of feather like incised lines which allow the focal point of the spoon, the carved and red painted figure of “Foxy”, to stand out.