Читать книгу Notes from a Swedish Kitchen - David Western - Страница 5

Spoons are more than just functional utensils that you use and then toss into the dishwasher. If you’ve never heard of decorative or romantic spoons, this book will teach you the basics about this exciting tradition. Even if you already know a bit about the topic, this book will expand your horizons with great recommendations for carving and finishing. It will also equip you with all the information you need to make your own historically inspired and unique romantic spoons.

Any spoon that is not meant for eating but for display or gifting is a decorative spoon, but not all decorative spoons are romantic spoons. A romantic spoon cannot simply function as a utensil or as an attractive art piece; it must also send a message of feeling, passion, or love. Although such spoons are frequently and somewhat too broadly called “lovespoons,” you will soon see that this is a restrictive name for a wide and rich field of spoon carving. This book’s collection digs into that field, examining tester, courting, wedding, novelty, and festival spoons, and explains the variety of purposes for which these romantic spoons were historically (and are still today) given and used.

The spoons that make up this volume are historical facsimiles, designed to be accurate to period, region, and dominant styles. Many are amalgamations of a range of common features or techniques, while others more closely represent a particularly significant historical spoon or regional specialty style. They are not intended to be exact replicas, simply very accurate historical representations.

The patterns in this book can be directly copied and carved, but they can also be cut and pasted in new combinations of elements to create an infinite array of fresh designs. For those with strong design abilities, this book will provide a rich foundation on which to experiment and build.

Romantic spoon carving is a lot of fun and is a very worthwhile pursuit. Whether you wish to carve a wedding or anniversary gift, a birth or memorial marker, or if you just want to enjoy the technical challenge of carving some of the designs, you will find plenty of inspiration and assistance within these pages.

—David Western, BC, Canada