pineapple passion

One of the best presents I ever received was a pineapple in a paper bag - given to me at a time when a pineapple was way beyond my student means. I remember being so thrilled when I took the fruit out of the bag and realised the act of generosity it constituted. I displayed that pineapple until I could bear its juicy temptations no longer, and it was the most delicious piece of fruit ever. And very romantic.

I was reminded of this personal passion fruit when I was in a very chic grocery with Alice recently. She went into raptures when she spotted a whole candied (or glace) pineapple - leaves and all. I couldn't not buy it for her as my own act of pineapple generosity and, besides, it is quite bewitching to look at. Plus it lasts longer than fresh ones which are out of season at the moment.

It's amazing what a single fruit can inspire. The pineapple has wonderful sculptural qualities, brilliant colours, an amazing texture and a bold surface pattern. These translate into an inspirational natural object which can be turned into all sorts of forms. It's no surprise that Matisse painted a pineapple; I like the idea that behind the hard, prickly exterior lies an exotic, intense interior - something like Matisse himself, if Hilary Spurling's book is anything to go by.   

Pineapple and Anemones Henri Matisse (1940)

One of my favourite pieces in the Manchester City Art Gallery is the HUGE ceramic Queen Pineapple by Kate Malone. This has to be seen to be believed. 

   

I am also very taken with the idea of a pineapple teapot, like this Staffordshire Creamware example which was made around 1760 (and probably costs more than all the tea in China). It would take an exceptionally generous wooer to buy this.

   

But I find myself inspired on a more domestic level. If I can't have the teapot, I could at least have a pineapple teacosy and my thoughts are turning to a kitsch, bright, beaded version with a burlesque topping of pointy leaves that Carmen Miranda might favour. I could pour tea from it to accompany a retro Upside Down Pineapple Cake complete with garish red cherries.

Or a fruity quilt? I bought the pineapple fabric (above) from equilter because I liked the graphic quality and the spaces, but I'm not so keen on all the overblown, hot-house prints that pineapples inspire. I'm thinking of a fruit theme rather than a Pineapple quilt (a complex-looking and sounding version of the Log Cabin pattern - Patricia Cox's book has some lovely examples), but I do admire the way the lines and fabrics cleverly form a spiky pineapple motif.

And who knew that there is practically a whole industry devoted to pineapple crochet? There are some really intricately beautiful pineapple designs (as opposed to pineapple stitch) and I just wish I had a grandmother willing and able to make me a few of these. Alternatively, should I have a few months to spare, I could always knit a pineapple afghan.

But, before I get carried away with pineapple possibilities, I must read The Pineapple: King of Fruits by Fran Beauman which sounds just...delicious.

Comments

[jpt]

Thanks for introducing me to the Matisse painting, which I can't help thinking of as "Ananas and Anemones".

[Amy]

I've long been fascinated with the use of the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality -- at least in early america -- is it there too? I love colonial style fruited garlands where whole pineapples are strung over doors. Imagine!

[Jill]

My son always buys pineapples (one for each side of the mantle) when he is entertaining. A symbol of hospitality here in the UK too. I read your blog faithfully and am inspired by it always.

[minxxy]

I had a little chuckle to myself when I read this post... Look what delight I have located a few miles from where I live. It could be something to add to your must visit list?

http://www.falkirklocalhistorysociety.co.uk/home/index.php?id=49

[kmkat]

We used to have a dining room set that had pineapples carved on the front of the buffet. We had bought it second- (or third-) hand, and when we finally after nearly 20 years of marriage were financially secure enough to buy a *real* dining room set, we gave it to my newly-married cousin. After reading your post I kind of wish we still had it, wobbly chairs and sticky leaves and all.

[Gary]

The vase and teapot are so kitsch that – they aren't! They are beautiful. But if you are giving one away in your new blog raffle (takes place every year this time), I'll put my money on the vase. (I'm an American coffee drinker.) Thanks!

[Dorothy B]

I really like the pineapple ewer. I can just imagine how large it must be.

[Mary K. in Rockport]

A blogger in the USA has a cute child's pineapple hat pattern (I think it's entrelac) on her site. If you're interested, I'll look it up. Plus, have you found that a hat, in a pinch, can be used as a tea cozy?

[Tracy]

I'd love to know what the origins of the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality are! My grandmother and mother used to crochet doilies by the dozens, and their favorite patterns always included pineapples. I love all the pineapple images you've shared with us.

[Mary K. in Rockport]

Aha, found it. You can see an example of the pineapple hat at
explaiknit dot typepad dot com. Love the ripple blanket, by the way.

[rac]

When I was pregnant for the second time I had the opportunity to go to Maui (hawaii). Every single day my breakfast consisted in juicy golden sweet pineapple chunks!!!Every drink was fresh pineapple juice and the only souvenir I bought was: PINEAPPLES!!!It's amazing my daughter does not have a pineapple face hehehehe!
Love you and happy 2007

[mesclun]

Growing up near Colonial Williamsburg, the pineapple as a symbol of hospitality was a familiar one to me. It wasn't until years later when I was studying American decorative arts in graduate school that I realized just how widespread the image of the pineapple was. From furniture to ceramics, fabrics to masonry, even tombstones - the pineapple was king. The fruit was so rare, expensive and difficult to acquire, that people would rent them by the hour for their centerpieces when they were entertaining. Pity the poor guest who mistakenly cut into one of those pineapples!

[Alpaca Woman]

You can actually stay in a pineapple courtesy of the Landmark Trust http://www.astbury.org/landmt/pineaple/pino15.jpg
It's certainly one-upmanship on the hospitality front - I see your fruit on the mantel and raise you a house! - probably wouldn't get passed by the planners of today though... I do so love those quirky old buildings.

[Amy]

That reminds me of the "A Pineapple for Me" song from Cabaret, when a pineapple is given as an extravagant gift during the bleak days of WWII!

[Nonnie]

I just love the pineapple tea pot. I wonder if it had pineapple cups and saucers to go with it?

[heatherly]

ah! the victorian symbol of hospitality! how great that it made you feel welcomed and wonderful stuff. just as it should.

[Hattie Davies]

And the other great pineapply thing as that they're great for the digestion! Kate Malone's stuff is great isn't it - she did a multi-coloured jug which I loved. Second on my hankering-after-ceramics list after Ravilious.

[Tricia]

We used to tease my sister about her funny-looking pineapple puppet (circa 1970). Wish I had it today- a very unusual puppet it was.
I remember tasting my first fresh pineapple at a restaurant and being so delighted!

[Pamela]

Mmmm, I love pineapple and am horribly piggy about it. I generally eat so much that it takes the skin off my lips and makes them bleed, he he.

[Philippa]

Oh upside down cake! It's my mum's failsafe pudding; she can whip one up in the time it takes from an unexpected guest to travel arriving at the door to the tea being poured. She usually uses apple from the garden but a pineapple one has appeared on occasion... Sigh, I've come over quite nostalgic.

Pineapples in paper bags always remind me of the scene in Cabaret when Herr Schultz gives Fraulein Schneider a pineapple. I don't particularly like the musical but I do love that moment.

[Rebecca]

I love your pineapple story, as soon as I started reading this post my mind turned to that Kate Malone vase and lo and behold as I scroll down there it is! I love her work, she was a big inspiration when I first started to make pots and I created my own (much less fabulous) pineapple inspired pots.

The pineapple crochet link has me reeling, off to browse it a little more deeply, thank you.

[sherry]

A FEW MONTHS for a pineapple afghan says the woman who turned out her first blanket in FOUR WEEKS! Pineapples are an easy pattern, and will go just as fast as the ripples (if not faster) because of all the open spaces. (But just how does one eat a glace pineapple after one is finished looking at it?)

[hoyan]

That glace pineapple is quite amazing! Indeed, the pineapple is one of my favorite themes or motifs and I am looking to make a pineapple hat like the crown worn by the Prince McDull in the cartoon film 'McDull, Prince de la Bun'.

[michelle]

I LOVE that Pineapple Afghan. If only I had the patience.

On our honeymoon, my husband and I went to Bali, and there are fruit sellers that wander along the beach with a basket overflowing and a huge knife. They will carve anything you fancy, and I was thrilled to choose a small pineapple and have the skin cut off, and the leafy head reduced to a stick-like handle to eat the pineapple upside-down like a popsicle. DELICIOUS!

[jackie]

when i started designing textiles, a pineapple was my first painting assignment. een thought it was a total coincidence, i always thought it was appropriate for a first day on my first "real" job. i have had a soft spot for pineapple in design ever since. plus hey--pineapple tastes great! in the summer, we make pineapple infused vodka for excellent martinis and punches. :)