Thanks Norman
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Stylistically both pommels look almost the same .... still wondering whether they are just 'decorated' acorn pommels that do not represent anything specific.
Mid 16th C ...it would be nice to find other swords of the period, with the same pommel ...
The history of the pineapple is interesting though.....
"......Spaniards introduced the pineapple into the Philippines and may have taken it to Hawaii and Guam early in the 16th Century. The first sizeable plantation 5 acres (2 ha)—was established in Oahu in 1885. Portuguese traders are said to have taken seeds to India from the Moluccas in 1548, and they also introduced the pineapple to the east and west coasts of Africa. The plant was growing in China in 1594 and in South Africa about 1655. It reached Europe in 1650 and fruits were being produced in Holland in 1686 but trials in England were not success ful until 1712. Greenhouse culture flourished in England and France in the late 1700's. Captain Cook planted pineapples on the Society Islands, Friendly Islands and elsewhere in the South Pacific in 1777........"
Fearn.....apparently the 'pineapple' was coined by the English because it looked like a pine cone that grew in trees (actually technically a bush) like an apple. Bearing in mind alot of Europeans would not have seen one ...it would make sense that a 'pine cone' topped with apple leaves would become the accepted 'image'.
Regards David
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