18th-Century Cut-Glass Pineapple Display Stand, Circa 1750
18th-Century Cut-Glass Pineapple Display Stand, Circa 1750
7311
A rare and highly evocative 18th-century cut-glass stand, designed to display a pineapple as the centrepiece of an elegant dining table, circa 1750. Of substantial decorative presence, the stand is cut to catch and reflect candlelight, creating a glittering setting for one of the most prized and conspicuous luxuries of Georgian entertaining.
In the 17th and 18th centuries, the pineapple was far more than an exotic fruit. Imported from the Caribbean at considerable expense and with no guarantee of surviving the journey, it became an instantly recognisable symbol of wealth, hospitality, and social status. A fresh pineapple was often displayed rather than eaten, and could even be rented for a single evening to lend prestige to a fashionable dinner or ball. Its dramatic form, unfamiliar flavour, and rarity made it the ultimate statement of a host's taste and prosperity.
This finely cut glass stand would have elevated the fruit to its rightful position at the centre of the table, where it could be admired by guests amid silver, porcelain, and candlelight. It is a fascinating survival from the theatre of Georgian dining, when presentation and ritual were inseparable from hospitality.
The stand is offered without the later Regency model pineapple shown for illustration, which is not included in the sale. Nonetheless, it remains a striking decorative object in its own right and a rare opportunity to acquire an object directly connected to the history of Georgian table display.
An exceptional addition to a collection of Georgian glass, dining antiques, or objects associated with the history of food and entertaining. It would display beautifully with a period or contemporary pineapple, fruit arrangement, or simply as an unusual and sculptural centrepiece.
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