DATE: Art Deco, c.1920

Pineapples have featured on the Jamaican coat of arms since its first iteration in 1661. Indeed they're pretty much the only constant to be found on multiple variants since then. While sugar, coffee, and rum became the main cash crops exported from the Caribbean to Britain and Europe, the pineapple took on particular favour on account of its sense "of welcome, good cheer, warmth, and celebration". The fruit became an emblem of hospitality, mainly because of its delicious flavour, exotic origin, and highly perishable nature. If someone offered you pineapple, you can be sure they were trying as hard as they could to please or impress you. The first pineapple to be successfully cultivated in Britain was grown in the Surrey glass house of Sir Mathew Decker, in 1720, but perhaps the most remarkable homage to the fruit was "", a furnace-heated "hot house" in Fife, eastern Scotland, with an incredible pineapple dome stickup out of the top (you can book to spend the night there and dine up in the pineapple dome, it's draughty but I'd highly recommend it).

This charm was made in the 1920s by Thomas L Mott, crafted in sterling silver and finished in vibrant orange/yellow, green, and blue enamel.

MEASUREMENTS 

1.9 x 1.0cm

WEIGHT 

1.1g

MARKS 

TLM STERLING ENGLAND - for Thomas L Mott

CONDITION 

Excellent