Hoag Levins has written a convincing argument for the origins of
pineapples being a symbol of hospitality. See:
http://www.levins.com/pineapple.html 
 
Essentially, this new world delicacy was the height of sophistication.
Before refrigeration, a pineapple that actually reached Europe or major
colonial ports was such a delicacy it meant that the successful host or
hostess was making extraordinary efforts for their guests if a pineapple
graced their dining table. Pineapples were few and far between so the
culture developed to include the image of the pineapple to show guests
that a household was up-to-date with the desire to have pineapples, even
in sculpture form, if the real thing were not available.
 
If the symbolism extends earlier, I would look to Renaissance Florence
and Della Robbia ceramics for further research.
 
Hope this helps,
Ware
Pineapple as Hospitality Symbol
In larger, well-to-do homes, the dining room doors were kept closed to
heighten visitors' suspense about the table being readied on the other
side. At the appointed moment, and with the maximum amount of pomp and
drama, the doors were flung open to reveal the evening's main event.
Visitors confronted with pineapple-topped food displays felt
particularly honored by a hostess who obviously spared no expense to
ensure her guests' dining pleasure. 
In this manner, the fruit which was the visual keystone of the feast
naturally came to symbolize the high spirits of the social events
themselves; the image of the pineapple coming to express the sense of
welcome, good cheer, human warmth and family affection inherent to such
gracious home gatherings. 
 
 
L.W.S. Petznick, Ph.D.
McFaddin-Ward House 
Curator of Collections
725 Third St.
Beaumont, TX 77701
[log in to unmask]
www.mcfaddin-ward.org
409.832.1906 p
409.832.3483 f
-----Original Message-----
From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Heidi Campbell-Shoaf
Sent: Thursday, January 19, 2006 10:20 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: pineapple question
 
This is a question for all you museum educators and curators out there.
My Education Coordinator is presenting a session at our local historic
sites consortium symposium about museum/historic house myths and will be
explaining but mostly debunking the popular myths heard around the
country, e.g. closets were taxed, firescreens kept people's wax makeup
from melting, the second leading cause of death among women was catching
on fire, etc. 
 
She has come across one that is intriguing and wants to include it in
her talk. There are apparently several versions of the "pineapple story"
floating around. One, a pineapple was placed on a visitor's plate at
mealtime if they had overstayed their welcome thereby giving them a
signal that it was time to leave. Another version states that
"pineapples" carved on the posts (I assume the mean the finials) of
four-poster beds were removed if the visitor has overstayed their
welcome. I think this last one refers to the crosshatched elliptical
decoration sometimes seen on rococo-style furniture. 
 
Has anyone heard these or versions of these? Do you have any suggestions
on where it might have originated? We all know about the pineapple being
a symbol of welcome and hospitality, when was this connection created? 
 
 
Heidi Campbell-Shoaf
Curator
Historical Society of Frederick County
24 E. Church St.
Frederick, MD 21701
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