the strangest gifts people have given for love.
From locks of hair to carved whale teeth, romance has always been a little weird.
Flowers are nice. Chocolates are fine. But historically, people have given their crushes pieces of their own hair, miniature paintings of their eyeballs, and whale teeth. Suddenly, a last-minute bouquet doesn't seem so bad.
A lock of love.
Before photographs, there was a more personal way to keep someone close: a lock of their hair. In the 18th and 19th centuries, lovers exchanged strands that could be tucked into lockets, woven into jewelry, or arranged into elaborate keepsakes. Nothing says “thinking of you” quite like carrying a tiny piece of someone around your neck.
I've got my eye on you.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, lovers sometimes exchanged miniature paintings of their eyes, set into rings, brooches, and pendants. Known as lover's eyes, these portraits let someone carry a discreet reminder of their beloved. Romantic, intimate, and considerably more commitment than sending an eye emoji.
A whale of a gift.
In the 19th century, sailors created elaborate carvings on whale teeth, a maritime art known as scrimshaw. Some became love tokens for the people waiting back home. One example in London's Museum collection was given by sailor Alexander Munro to Sophia Knight in 1837. Forget diamonds. Nothing says “I crossed the ocean for you” quite like a tooth from a whale.
Wooden you be mine?
In Wales, suitors carved intricate wooden spoons as tokens of affection. Hearts, chains, and other motifs communicated love and commitment, while the hours spent carving demonstrated devotion. It's a surprisingly sweet tradition, and a reminder that handmade gifts have always had a certain appeal. Bonus points if the recipient actually needed a spoon.
A little change of heart.
In 18th- and 19th-century Britain and America, people turned ordinary coins into keepsakes by hammering them flat and engraving them with lovers' names, initials, or messages. Known as love tokens, these altered coins were sometimes carried as pocket-sized reminders of someone far away. Essentially, the original personalized jewelry, made from money that was no longer quite money.
From locks of hair to whale teeth, the strangest love tokens share one thing: the desire to make a feeling tangible. The objects might have changed, but the sentiment hasn't. A great gift says, “I thought of you,” preferably without requiring a trip to the dentist or a whaling expedition.
