What Does a Pineapple on a Door Mean?

Pineapples were prized in Colonial America for their sweet, juicy pulp, but only the fastest ships returning from the Caribbean could deliver pineapples before they rotted. These scarce delicacies became symbols of hospitality and a popular door carving at prosperous households.

Meaning

• Dinners and household entertaining were the primary means of socializing in Colonial America. The most generous hostesses offered the prized pineapple to their guests and they became symbols of hospitality. Pineapple carvings on Colonial household doors promised warmth and welcome, and the pineapple motif lingers long after most have forgotten the original meaning.

Status

• Hostesses needed wealth and connections to acquire ripe pineapples and the presentation of a pineapple at a dinner conferred great status upon the household. Pineapples became so prized as status symbols that Colonial produce merchants would rent them to hostesses wishing to make a big impression.

Other Pineapple Motifs

• Pineapples' popularity as a hospitality symbol extended beyond doors. Colonial-era tea caddies, dessert trays and other items used during social gatherings were frequently embossed with pineapples. Pineapples also became popular motifs for tablecloths, bedsheets and other items associated with welcoming guests.