Thyme for a Kim Klassen deSign.......a Pineapple....A history of hospitality and friendship

The pineapple has long been a popular

 symbol of hospitality and friendship.

This is a pineapple sign
that
I have painted using a

KIM KLASSEN DESIGN

A little history of how the pineapple
became a symbol of hospitality
" This symbolism has a lengthy history beginning when

 Christopher Columbus and his men landed on the island now known as

Guadeloupe on their second voyage of discovery.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought the fruit back to Europe

from his voyage through the Carib Islands.

This tropical king of fruits was crowned the "pineapple"

 by the English because of its resemblance

to a pine cone and its juicy center, which reminded them of an apple."

I used the same pattern and made a smaller version of this sign
You can find this pattern
in Kim Klassen's Book
Prairie Folk Art

"To the Carib, the pineapple symbolized hospitality,

and the Spaniards soon learned they were welcome

if a pineapple was placed by the entrance to a village.

This symbolism spread to Europe, then to Colonial North America,

where it became the custom to carve the shape of a pineapple

 into the columns at the entrance of a plantation."

I designed this large door pineapple

It has always been a huge seller

for me year arourd

I use rough wood to cut it out

and a wood burning tool

to add the pattern to the pineapple

It is heavily antiqued to give it

an "old" look

"During early Colonial days in the United States,
families would set a fresh pineapple
 in the center of the table as a colorful centerpiece
of the festive meal, especially when visitors joined them in celebration.
This symbolized the utmost in welcome and hospitality
 to the visitor, and the fruit would be served as a special desert after the meal"

Hope you enjoyed this short history of the pineapple

I just love to paint them!

Happy Painting!

Lynn

"Each day is a new canvas to paint upon. 

Make sure your picture is full of life and happiness, 

and

 at the end of the day you don't look at it 

and 

wish you had painted something different." 

~Author Unknown