Penny Sanford Designs: Spirit of Hospitality Pineapple Brooch Available Again

Once again, there is a limited quantity of "Spirit of Hospitality" brooches available at the National Daughters of the American Revolution gift shop in Washington, D.C.

This sculpted porcelain brooch was commissioned by NSDAR President General Linda Calvin to help raise funds to continue the restoration and renovation of the historic buildings of the National DAR headquarters in Washington, D.C.

I have sculpted on every brooch, and I have signed each piece. The metal finding on the back of the brooch allows you to wear this piece as a brooch or as a necklace. (Think: refined omega necklace)

This is a limited edition piece, and each brooch is numbered. It comes in a gift box with information about the Calvin President General's project as well as my studio on Historic Hamer Hills Farm, circa 1837.

This piece is only available through the NSDAR Gift Shop in Washington, D.C. It is not on the NSDAR website because of the limited number of pieces available.

Call 1-888-673-2732 to order.

The price is $20 per brooch plus shipping. Their phone hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. EST Monday through Friday except holidays. Their email is: [email protected].

This classically designed brooch, a collaborative design between Mrs. Calvin and me, is created in high fire porcelain, polished to a soft luster. The comment I hear most is, "It looks like white chocolate".

From my research, the pineapple originated as a symbol of hospitality, reportedly because sea captains placed a pineapple on their gate post when they returned from a sea voyage, signaling neighbors to come visit and hear of their sea-going adventures.

The rope border around this octagonal piece is a nod to those sea-faring origins of the pineapple as a classic icon of gracious hospitality.