This pineapple design is a copy of a ceiling panel design for the House of Lords Refreshment Room. It is one of 19 sheets of designs in the V&A's collection for a ceiling featuring twelve fruit tree patterns of 'very pale yellow white on blue and red ground, perhaps a pale green' which survived in 1980 with Pugin's designs intact.

Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin (1812-52) is widely considered as one of the most significant and influential architects, designers and theorists of the 19th century. Following his conversion to Catholicism in 1835, he identified the Gothic style with Christian architecture and his work and writings inspired and framed the Gothic Revival. In 'Contrasts', published in 1836, he condemned classical forms and ardently praised 14th and 15th-century architecture. Pugin is best remembered for his work on the Palace of Westminster.