Norwegian Wedding Spoon Types

 Norwegian Wedding Spoons, not all the same!

A traditional Norwegian Wedding Spoon is used by the new couple to feed each other during the wedding feast to symbolize their commitment to care for each other.

There are several types of wedding spoon. For simplicity of identification I have classified them into 6 types. Keep in mind that these types are not official, just my private means of identification. The photos of each type are at the end of the post.

A Type 1 is the most recognizable type of Norwegian Wedding Spoon. It consists of two identical spoons connected by a wooden chain. The chain symbolizes the new bond between the bride and groom. I think! I don't believe that there is an actual universally accepted interpretation.

Some people believe that the chain and both spoons are carved from a single, undivided piece of wood. As a carver I can attest to the fact that this would be a very, very difficult task due to the effort involved in keeping a piece of wood approximately 26" (66cm) long from breaking during carving. I suspect that most, if not all, of these spoons were carved from 3 separate pieces of wood. The handles have 4 stylized hearts below a human face and two animal heads. The human face is called a "glibber." What that is, no one, including museum curators, seems to know these days. It is thought that the "glibber" and the animal heads are there to scare away evil spirits. I prefer to think of them as Odin and his wolves, Geri and Freki. 

An antique Type 1 Norwegian Wedding Spoon, probably carved from birch wood.

I carved this Type 1 spoon from poplar.

The one I call a Type 2 is a single spoon with a short wooden chain above the "glibber." In this case the chain and the spoon are carved from a single piece of wood. Again, the chain represents the bond between the bride and groom. The "glibber" and the animal heads are common between the Type 1, 2, and 3 spoons.

An antique Type 2 wedding spoon also probably carved from birch wood.

I carved this Type 2 wedding spoon from a single piece of linden wood. This spoon is just over 5.5" (14cm) long by 1.5" (3.8cm) wide with a 4" (10cm) chain. 

A Type 3 spoon is a single spoon with multiple chains, all carved from a single, undivided piece of wood. At least mine are! As far as I know, there is no universally accepted description for the chains on these single wedding spoons. I like to believe one chain represents the groom and his family, one the bride and her family, and the central chain God, all joined as one at the base. Again the spoon and the chains are carved from a single, undivided piece of wood as shown in the picture below. 

An antique Type 3 wedding spoon.

I carved this Type 3 wedding spoon from a single piece of linden wood. This spoon is just over 7.5" (19cm) long by 2" (5.1cm) wide with three 5" (12.7cm) chains. 

This is a picture of my Type 3 spoon during the time I was carving the chains. The spoon on the right is a spoon I accidentally broke because I carved the chains last. Sequence matters.

What I call a Type 4 spoon has two bowls attached to either end of a single handle. This makes it somewhat difficult for the bride and groom to eat simultaneously from the spoon, usually to the amusement of the wedding guests.

An antique Type 4 wedding spoon.

This is my interpretation of a Type 4 wedding spoon. The design of the handle is very traditional. The bowl shapes are not. I am especially fond of heart-shaped bowls. I carved this spoon from a particularly lovely piece of mesquite wood found only in North America, making this spoon a Scandinavian-American hybrid, much like the couple who now own it.

I also recognize a Type 5 wedding spoon called a joke spoon. But this is a subject for its own post.

A Type 6 wedding spoon is a single, highly decorated spoon with no chain.

An antique Type 6 wedding spoon from the Norske Folkemuseum.

I carved this Type 6 spoon from birch.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

You can see (and purchase 😊) more of my spoons in my Etsy shop (https://theartofromance.etsy.com)





























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