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:

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.

Circular form; obverse: bust of Abraham Lincoln facing right flanked by engraved dates, 1809 / 1909; reverse: eagle on rock over sea; in field: "PRESERVE PROTECT / DEFEND".

Medal (USA), 1906
engraved bronze.
Gift of Victor David Brenner.
1906-33-1

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
There are 5 images of this object.

Snuff Box, early 19th century

Snuff Box, early 19th century
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.

Upright rectangular cage (a) with two parallels and concealed door; attached by small brads to black lacquered wood base (b) with cabriole legs set at angles. Inside cage, imitation black beetle and winged insect (dragon fly?) attached to bars.

Cricket Cage And Base (Japan), late 19th century
rattan, bamboo, lacquered wood (base); fiber, paper, silk thread, 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)

Cricket Cage (Italy)
wood, bamboo, metal wire.
1916-40-6

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
There are 2 images of this object.

Upright rectangular cage with peaked roof having loop handle at top, zigzag wire along front and side edges; swinging door on spring; red-painted wood base with four circular wire feet.

Cricket Cage (Italy), ca. 1903
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.

Painting, Sunlight and Shadow

Painting, Sunlight and Shadow
brush and oil on canvas.
1917-14-7

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
There are 4 images of this object.

Panel "III"; see also entry for 1921-22-198

Cavagnole Game Board
papier mache, painted and gilded decoration.
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
1921-22-199

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.

Purse of red velvet embroidered in silver metal yarns in a design of conventionalized floral forms radiating from center bottom. With a cream-colored silk satin lining and silk drawstring.

Gaming Purse (Italy), 17th century
silk, metallic yarns.
Gift of Charles W. Gould.
1926-11-15

This object is part of the Textiles collection.
There are 3 images of this object.

Cooler
glazed and gilded porcelain with polychrome overglaze decoration.
1926-22-468-a/c

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.

Object ID #18318357

Object ID #18318357
silk and metal-wrapped silk-core threads.
1931-4-25-a/c

This object is part of the Textiles collection.
There are 5 images of this object.

Monotone cameo-glass, ruby red; carved with eight precious emblems of good fortune; wheel of law, conch shell, umbrella canopy, lotus flower, pair of fish, endless knot. Flattened globose shape. Stopper of green glass simulating jade and set on pale red glass. Ivory spoon.

Snuff Bottle And Lid (China), 1821–51
molded glass, ivory (spoon).
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt.
1931-64-49-a,b

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.

Drawing, Journey by Sedan Chair

Drawing, Journey by Sedan Chair
black chalk, pen and black ink, brush and watercolor on paper.
1931-73-6

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
There are 2 images of this object.

Vase with footed base, made of scroddled ware- mixed color clay to resemble marble.

Object ID #18350315
glazed earthenware.
Bequest of Erskine Hewitt.
1938-57-559

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.

Long steel blade with hilt wrapped spirally with black cord. Beneath cord, pebble-like texture. Pine-tree menuki. Oval tsuba of iron, silver, gold, and shibuichi. Design is a man and frog. Haliki silver plate. Fuchi-Kashira-bird of shibuichi and gold. Mark of tempering: HAMON, Gume Midare. The nakago is tong and has two holes.

Scabbard And Sword, 1596–1615
steel, cord, iron, silver, gold, shibuichi.
Gift of Anonymous Donor.
1941-59-7-a/c

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.

Geometric design of interlacing bands forming circular motifs. The effect is that of stencil work. The field is plain. The entire paper is embossed to represent grained leather and antiqued by hand. On reverse side is written:"8708EE."

Imitation Leather (USA), 1920
block printed and glazed, embossed paper.
Gift of Birge Co., Inc..
1944-79-15

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

Sidewall (Belgium)

Sidewall (Belgium)
machine printed on paper.
1945-13-1-a/c

This object is part of the Wallcoverings collection.
There are 3 images of this object.

Gray, black, and white tabby cat standing on hind legs holds an upraised stick above a mewing kitten lying across its knee, as if in the act of spanking.

Cat and kitten Figure, late 19th–early 20th century
cast and painted brass.
Gift of Anonymous Donor.
1949-49-35

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
There are 3 images of this object.

Wine Glass
cut, engraved, and gilded glass.
1951-147-1-a,b

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.

Brisé fan. Ivory sticks, painted gilded and varnished. Obverse: large cartouche enclosing an outdoor scene with figures under a canopy, putti and a woman serving wine. Gorge showing a chinoiserie scene of figures with umbrellas at a table. Reverse: large cartouche enclosing an outdoor scene with two figures by a sea with boats. Tortoiseshell thumb guard; silk connecting ribbon; mother-of-pearl washer at the rivet.

Object ID #18391063
painted and gilded ivory sticks, tortoiseshell thumb guard, silk connecting....
Gift of Anonymous Donor.
1952-161-198

This object is part of the Textiles collection.
There are 4 images of this object.

Pale violet silk purse ornamented with gold beads in zigzag and diamond pattern. Two engraved hexagonal rings control side opening; tassels at either end are of small gold beads ending in loops formed by larger gold beads.

Miser's Purse (France), early 19th century
silk, metal.
Gift of Mrs. Albert Blum.
1953-106-91-a

This object is part of the Textiles collection.
There are 5 images of this object.

Carrying case of cardboard covered with small patterned paper, trimmed with gold paper.

Box For A Miser's Purse (France), early 19th century
cardboard, paper.
Gift of Mrs. Albert Blum.
1953-106-91-b

This object is part of the Textiles collection.
There are 4 images of this object.

Print, Rotherhithe

Print, Rotherhithe
etching and drypoint on paper.
1954-89-4

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
There are 3 images of this object.

Two of Hearts playing card from a pack of transformation playing cards. Male figure depicted in outline, wearing the costume of a soldier with a sword at his left hip, raises a glass with liquid in his right hand. His left hand rests on a table shown at right, upon which is placed a bottle. Two symmetrical red hearts appear at center top and bottom.

Playing Card, Two of Hearts, late 19th century
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Mrs. Dexter J. Purinton.
1955-78-14-12

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.

Four of Diamonds playing card from a pack of transformation playing cards. Two male figures in military costume depicted in outline, with red diamonds integrated into their hats as well as the cuffs of their boots. At left, a map with a top hat holds a bottle, possibly of wine. At right, a man wearing a fez places his hands on the other's shoulders.

Object ID #18405293
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Mrs. Dexter J. Purinton.
1955-78-14-24

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.

Playing Card, Five of Diamonds, late 19th century
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Mrs. Dexter J. Purinton.
1955-78-14-25

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.

Three of Spades playing card from a pack of transformation playing cards. Figure in oriental costume depicted in outline, facing left, holds a fan. Pagoda in background at right. Three black spades appear centered vertically, overlapping the figure's head, center torso, and feet; the upper two spades facing up, the lower spade facing down.

Object ID #18405305
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Mrs. Dexter J. Purinton.
1955-78-14-3

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.

Six of Clubs playing card from a pack of transformation playing cards. Female figure in flowered dress and ornamental hairstyle. She carries a pitcher of water and waters pots of flowers and plants. At upper right, a chandelier with four burning candles. Six black clubs integrated into the design.

Object ID #18405319
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Mrs. Dexter J. Purinton.
1955-78-14-36

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.

Print, Printers' Ink Monthly: A Round Table Package Clinic, January 1933

Print, Printers' Ink Monthly: A Round Table Package Clinic, January 1933
lithograph on paper.
Gift of Ellen Gustav Jensen.
1956-47-141

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.

"Cockfight chair" Reading Chair

"Cockfight chair" Reading Chair
turned and joined walnut, leather, brass, tin.
1960-164-16-a/c

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
There are 12 images of this object.

Study of a nude figure depicted in black outline. At upper center, a female nude figure seen from behind, turned half-way to the left. The figure’s arms are raised with their hands folded behind their head. The figure is depicted wearing high-heeled shoes with tall black stockings, or possibly, knee-high black boots.

Drawing, Exhibitionist, 1930–1938
pen and black ink on off-white paper.
Gift of Mrs. E. McKnight Kauffer.
1963-39-792

This object is part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design collection.
There are 3 images of this object.

Wine Glass (USA)

Wine Glass (USA)
mouth-blown favrile glass.
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 man with turban Snuff Box

Snuff box in shape of a man with turban Snuff Box
carved amethyst, chased gold, silver, cut diamonds, rubies, emeralds,....
1967-48-19

This object is part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts collection.
There are 5 images of this object.

Vertical rectangle. Two ballerinas in full-skirted costumes, sitting in a dressing room, clinking glasses full of a light brown beverage. Two bottles of the beverage placed on a tray on a table between them. Polar bear rug on floor at left, bouquet of pink roses at lower right. Behind them, a vanity with a gilded mirror at right and a screen at left. Yellow curtain in the background.

Print, Advertisement for a Beverage, late 19th century
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.

Vertical rectangle. Six smiling bearded gnomes in the grassy woods, holding steins of beer, many raising their steins in the air. Each wears a brown hat with a red feather, brown shirt, pants, shoes, and green stockings. Gnome at left leans against a large wooden barrel. To his left are bowling pins and balls.

Print, Advertisement for Beer, ca. 1898
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.

Vertical rectangle. Two female figures, a woman in yellow dress at right handing a glass of beer or wine to a seated woman wearing a red cape and gray dress at left. Decorated rug on the floor. Behind the woman at right, a wooden table with white eyelet tablecloth. On the table stands a green bottle and a second glass full of a brown beverage. Lamp on a stand in background at right, a plant at left. Blue curtain beyond.

Print, Advertisement for a Beverage, late 19th century
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.