In 18th century England, pineapples were a status symbol
Although pineapples weren’t introduced in England until the 1600s, by the 1700s owning pineapples had become a huge craze. Those rich enough to own a pineapple would carry them around to signify their personal wealth and high-class status. And for those who weren’t rich enough to buy their own pineapples and become a part of this fad, they could rent a pineapple for the day, (prices for renting the fruit overnight would reach an equivalent amount of $8,000.)
The Haus of Dcaligari 