Pineapple Fountain Charleston Waterfront Park

The pineapple in symbology has often been suggested as synonymous with hospitality. It is written that historically because of the rare nature of... more

by Mark VanDyke

Title

Pineapple Fountain Charleston Waterfront Park

Artist

Mark VanDyke

Medium

Photograph

Description

The pineapple in symbology has often been suggested as synonymous with hospitality. It is written that historically because of the rare nature of these fruits being found only in the West Indies and the myriad difficulties in preserving them during the ship ride back to the Americas, that their value was quite high. There is also writing that suggests that their sweet and powerful taste was a delicacy of sorts in a time without the indulgances that we enjoy so easily today. Taking their value and rare nature into account, the pineapple was said to often grace the centerpiece of affluent tables during parties, and at certain times would often even be rented as a symbol of hospitality for a party, only to be returned the same evening to another party which would likely core and enjoy the fruit.

However, Mary Miley Theobald writes in her book, Death by Petticoat: American History Myths Debunked, that the pineapple was certainly never a symbol of hospitality and was likely mistaken in early artwork for the pinecone. In fact, she goes on to state that the English named the pine-apple after the more familiar pine-cone due to its aesthetic similarities. In classical symbology the pinecone has represented fertility and regeneration, which Theobald believes was the likely meaning that the English emulated when carving pinecone/pineapple shapes in headboards, friezes and fireplace surrounds. She ends a blogpost on the pineapple symbology here in America by saying that there is absolutely no historical precedence for the pineapple symbolizing hospitality during its time, saying that "the pineapple myth simply refuses to die an honorable death."

Uploaded

April 12th, 2013