The Virtue in Vice
This exhibition was on display from September 06, 2017 to April 15, 2018.
This exhibition has been divided in to the following sections:
See all the exhibitions.
View and print exhibition labels.
Master craftsmanship, luxurious materials, or sensuous forms often provide a veneer for objects that amplifies the pleasure of their use. Design disguises what we wish to remain private, tempts us with luxuries large and small, feeds sensuous appetites, and—should we envy someone else’s possessions—ease our discontent with clever imitations. Pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath, and sloth—the seven deadly sins—find irresistible outlet in these objects chosen from Cooper Hewitt’s collection.
- Snuff Box
- painted tôle.
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Talbot Jones Taylor.
- 1912-18-22
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- Painting, Sunlight and Shadow
- brush and oil paint on canvas.
- Gift of Charles Savage Homer, Jr..
- 1917-14-7
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Drawing, Journey by Sedan Chair
- black chalk, pen and black ink, brush and watercolor on paper.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1931-73-6
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Wine Glass with Shipping Scene Wine Glass
- cut, engraved, and gilded glass.
- Museum purchase through gift of James Loeb.
- 1951-147-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 7 images of this object.
- Print, Rotherhithe
- etching and drypoint on paper.
- Gift of Leo Wallerstein.
- 1954-89-4
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Reading Chair Chair
- turned and joined walnut, leather, brass, tin.
- Gift of Mrs. Paul Moore.
- 1960-164-16-a/c
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 8 images of this object.
- Wine Glass (USA)
- mouth-blown favrile glass.
- Bequest of Joseph L. Morris.
- 1966-55-6-a
- This object was made by Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Snuff Box in Shape of a Moor's Head Snuff Box
- amethyst, gold, silver, diamonds, rubies, emeralds, turquoise, moonstone,....
- Gift of Anonymous Donor.
- 1967-48-19
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 5 images of this object.
- Print, Advertisement for a Beverage
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Harvey Smith.
- 1967-59-25
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Print, Advertisement for Beer
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Harvey Smith.
- 1967-59-26
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Book-form Flask
- painted and glazed earthenware.
- Gift of the C. Helme and Alice B. Strater Collection.
- 1976-1-149
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Compliments of National India Rubber Company Matchsafe
- metal, celluloid.
- Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
- 1978-146-2
- This object was made by Whitehead & Hoag Company.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Matchsafe
- cast metal and painted celluloid.
- Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
- 1978-146-220
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- Young Man Smoking Matchsafe
- cast and incised silver.
- Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
- 1978-146-231
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Cancan Dancer Matchsafe
- cast silver, enamel.
- Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
- 1978-146-259
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Woman smoking Matchsafe
- cast and chased silver.
- Gift of Stephen W. Brener and Carol B. Brener.
- 1978-146-1248
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Patchwork Cover (USA)
- silk, cotton.
- Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith.
- 1980-31-2
- Bonbonnière And Lid (England)
- gilt and glazed earthenware.
- Gift of Barbara E. Busch.
- 1986-88-1-a,b
- This object was made by Moorcroft.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Sidewall And Attached Border, République Française Liberté Égalité
- block printed on handmade paper.
- Gift of John Jay Ide Collection.
- 1986-106-1
- This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Drawing, Design for a Painted Porcelain Plate, Café (Coffee) from the...
- pen and brown, black ink, brush and brown, black wash, white gouache, red....
- Museum purchase through gift of James Amster.
- 1989-13-26
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Coronet Coffee Maker
- chrome-plated metal, plastic.
- Gift of Mel Byars.
- 1991-59-87-a/c
- This object was made by Chase Brass & Copper Co..
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 6 images of this object.
- Pair of Cake Tongs With Caterpillar Tongs
- silver.
- Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program,....
- 1996-56-39-a,b
- This object was made by Charles Victor Gibert.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 6 images of this object.
- Spade Shaped Server with Slug and Cat Handle Server
- silver.
- Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program,....
- 1996-56-49
- This object was made by Charles Victor Gibert.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- Ice Cream Server with Mother-of-Pearl Handle Server
- gold plated, silver, mother of pearl.
- Museum purchase from Smithsonian Institution Collections Acquisition Program,....
- 1996-56-80
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- Jeweled Sculpture of Antony, Cleopatra, and Attendant Sculpture
- silver, diamonds, rubies, sapphires.
- Gift of Victoria Unschuld.
- 1997-158-1
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Print, The Woman Taking Coffee
- engraving, etching in blue, black and red ink over gold leaf, with additional....
- Museum purchase through gift of George A. Hearn.
- 2006-3-1
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 4 images of this object.
- No. 2 Wine Decanter With Stopper
- mouth-blown crystal, faceted and relief-prismatic-cut and polished.
- Museum purchase through gift of Dale and Doug Anderson, Anonymous Donor,....
- 2009-18-3-a,b
- This object was made by J. & L. Lobmeyr GmbH.
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 3 images of this object.
- House Model Tea Caddy
- various woods.
- Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw.
- 2013-3-6-a/f
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Print, Advertisement for a Beverage
- lithograph on paper.
- Gift of Harvey Smith.
- 1967-59-34
- This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Ice Cream Cooler (Seau à Glace; One of a Pair) Cooler With Lining And Cover
- porcelain (possibly soft paste), vitreous enamel, gold.
- Bequest of Mrs. John Innes Kane.
- 1926-22-468-a/c
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- Model Of A Carriage
- carved, cut, and painted wood and wrought iron, sheet glass.
- Gift of Eugene V. and Clare E. Thaw.
- 2014-39-6
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Cricket Cage And Base (Japan)
- rattan, bamboo, lacquered wood (base); fiber, paper, silk, feathers....
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1916-40-3-a,b
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Cricket Cage (Italy)
- wood, bamboo, metal wire.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1916-40-6
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.
- Cricket Cage (Italy)
- metal wire, stained wood.
- Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
- 1916-40-7
- This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
- There are 2 images of this object.