The Virtue in Vice | Exhibitions | Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

This exhibition was on display from September 06, 2017 to April 15, 2018.

This exhibition has been divided in to the following sections:

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
cut, engraved, and gilded glass.
Museum purchase through gift of James Loeb.
1951-147-1-a,b

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
There are 7 images of this object.

Two figures with pensive faces are seated, each holding a long smoking pipe, in front of a dockside scene with assorted masted ships and sailboats on the left, and dark buildings along the right, in the background. Both figures appear bundled in heavy clothing and each holds the pipe downward and at the far end away from their mouths with one closed hand. The individual on the right is wearing a head cover and looks toward the other, who looks off into the distance. The entire scene is etched with overlaid black lines, though the river itself is left bare, highlighting the lines and rigging of the sailing ships and boats. In the distance, buildings of uniform height line the river. The artist's signature and presumably the year, 1860, is placed on the bottom left.

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.

"Cockfight chair" Reading 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.

A snuff box, in Amethyst, shaped liked a head and fashioned with a turban. A gold trim decorated the base of the snuff box lid while the turban and face are adorned with various gemstones.

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.

Six bearded gnomes, seated in a grassy wooded area. The gnomes enjoy a beer from a wooden barrel placed in the background. They drink from mugs that are bright blue with white detailing. The gnomes all have white beards and are fashioned in pointed hats with a red feather attached and brown knickerbockers and matching vests.

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.

A ceramic flask shaped and decorated to look like a book. A floral pattern is printed on the edges of the book, while the spine is decorated in black and white painted horizontal stripes. A spout is placed at the top of the book.

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.

Cover of a silver rectangle shaped matchsafe featuring a nude woman seated at a small body of water and surrounded by flowers. The woman is seated atop a bright red garment. The image is depicted against an off-white surface.

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.

Cover of a matchsafe featuring A man and woman flirting in a room. The man, seated, tugs on the woman’s dress as she playfully pulls away. The man wears a purple vest under a bright orange coat with dark colored knickerbockers. The woman, dressed only in her undergarments, has her dress and shoes strewn across a chair. The couple are in a bedroom.

Matchsafe, late 19th century
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 of cigarette souvenirs in squares of 11 by 17. Each square is printed wtih a different image. The border is of national flags while the interior squares are of famous queens and women portraits and fashionable women in full dress. In the center squares are 12 central flag and below, four squares of Native American figures in historic dress.

Patchwork Cover (USA)
silk, cotton.
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Smith.
1980-31-2

This object is part of the Textiles collection.
There are 2 images of this object.

A large rounded top candy dish with large hooped handles on opposite sides, a long stem with a high foot.. The closed lid has a gold rounded triangle top. Decorated with a floral pattern of five petaled flowers and vines colored green and gold on dark blue background.

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.

A colorful block printed sidewall and border segment of wallpaper from the time of the French Revolution as seen in the honored imagery and inscriptures. The large blue-green oval symbol in the center possesses a green wreath around its periphery. The words Republique Francaise are written in uppercase following the curve of the top of the oval. The motifs illustrated in the center are dark green bundles of rods with a projecting axe blade known as fasces crossed as an X , with a bright red-orange Phrygian cap or liberty cap exhibiting a smaller surrounding wreath on a staff, tied proudly together with white ribbons giving voice to liberte and egalite. The repeated illustrations above, below and to the right of the central oval lie horizontally placed lozenge shapes illustrated with three colored ribbons in red-orange, white and blue-green with a badge of ribbons within called a cockade. Each ribbon of the lozenge overlaps the edge of the ovals closest to it creating a feeling of cohesion. The imagery is positioned on a gray-beige ground. To the left of the central oval shape is an attached border with a narrow fluted column bearing ribbons diagonally placed saying “Soyons Unis/Nous Serons/Invincibles.” To the far right of the oval is an attached border and has similar repeated patterns to the lozenge shapes but more square with bows on a vertical orientation in negative space and a variation of the cockade in the center.

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 Service des Objets de Dessert (Dessert Service)

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.

A slightly tarnished silver cake tong resembling two long leaves with elegantly rounded edges. The opaque leaf closest to the viewer possesses incisions that reveal detailed veins and has a caterpillar lounging on the exterior of the leaf in the center. The leaf away from the viewer mirrors the above leaf in the outer form however the design exhibits a vein skeleton created by disintegrative negative space producing a see-through effect. Both stems join a pivot point meeting the handles with decorative swirls.

Cake Tong (France)
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.

Server (France)
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 (France)
silver, mother-of-pearl, gilding.
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.

A cast silver sculptural group adorned and encrusted with precious gemstones showing a Roman soldier in full regalia seated left of center and opposite an Eqyptian woman while reclining on a chaise longue resting right of center. A servant is cooling the woman using a fan and both are placed in the center of the composition. There is a small tripod table to the right of the chaise holding a bowl of cabachon rubies and sapphires and faceted diamonds with a golden urn beneath. The soldier’s bare right arm is draped over the right arm of the chair, showing he is relaxed while his bare right leg extends toward her. His left hand is resting on his knee with his palm facing up as if he is explaining an idea to her. He is clothed from under his breasts where a band of diamonds is worn to his thighs, trimmed in cabachon rubies. He is sitting on a chair that resembles a small throne and wears a heavy-looking tall Roman helmut with cabachon jewels and faceted diamonds. He is seductive. The woman’s position is also relaxed, seductive and also powerful. She is looking directly at the Roman soldier and her arm mirrors the placement of his arm draped over the chair. Her right arm is casually resting on her crossed extended legs holding what appears to be a weapon. She is wearing a bra with two cabachon sapphires as breasts and loose silky pants situated below her naval with two rubies strategically placed on her pelvic region with jeweled borders on her pants. She is adorned with a headdress that displays an asp as her flowing hair glistens with diamonds. She is anticipating his move on her large throne as she reclines on exquisite gemstones. Her servant is muscular and he is close by. He is wearing a simple wrapped skirt bejeweled with one row of sapphires on the border. His headdress is simple with two flaps that extend to his breasts each with one ruby and several diamonds. The fan he holds above her head has a rounded arrow form and is completely encrusted with jewels. The sculpture group is supported on a beveled rectangular platform embellished with a centered croissant shaped object with a large cabachon sapphire in the center. On each side of the object is a pattern of jeweled waves repeated with large capachon sapphires in the center.

Sculptural Group (possibly Germany)
cast 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