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, 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.

Horizontal view of a young woman in a white dress, lying in a hammock with her feet over the edge, reading a book. She is in a setting of sunlight-dappled trees and grass.

Painting, Sunlight and Shadow, 1872
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.

Horizontal rectangle. A man riding upon a horse which carries luggage beside him, leads the front mule carrying with another a sedan chair in which a woman and a man sit. A driver with a long stick walks at right. A dog accompanies the caravans. In the background are the sea, Vesuvius and other mountains. Framing lines. Signature in the lower right corner: "1828/Gatta f."

Drawing, Journey by Sedan Chair, 1828
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.

Campaniform with gilt rim and palmettes and engraved, floriated scrolls and fantastic architecture enframing a shipping scene, two seated females, and heraldic arms; panelled with cutting below. On faceted stem, ring-collared below, terminating in a round foot engraved edge with dots and serrations.

Wine Glass , 1740–50
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.

View of the harbor in the background, with sailing ships of various types visible. In the foreground two figures of men, shown half-length, are smoking.

Print, Rotherhithe, 1860
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.

Form with square tapering seat and tall narrow back upholstered in dark brown nailed leather; back with horizontal U-curved arms at top fitted with hinged, adjustable wooden book rest on back; retractable tin candleholder in left arm, small retractable sectioned tray in right arm; drawer in seat; cabriole front legs with pad feet, turned stretchers, rear feet square in section; small brass caster on each foot.

A) chair
B) drawer
C) bookrest support

"Cockfight chair" Reading Chair, ca. 1720–30
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.

Flower-shaped cup with pink and mauve interiors shadowed on exteriors with milky white: fluted clear glass stems with milky white at top and bottom; domed foot with white rim and eight tapering pinwheel forms radiating from stem.

Wine Glass (USA), ca. 1900
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.

Box in form of a Moor's head; hinged cover; box and cover carved from single pieces of amethyst quartz in such a way that the natural white portions of the stone form the turban; surface highly polished except that hair is mat cut; eyes of moonstone with platinum (?) pupils at front and on left side of turban, applied floral ornaments set with rubies, turquoise and diamonds in gold and silver mounts; earrings each set with a rose diamond and small cabochon emerald; gold rims of box and cover carved with flame moldings and small scrolled thumb-piece.

Snuff Box in Shape of a Moor's Head Snuff Box, mid-18th century
amethyst, gold, silver, cut 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.

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.

Book-shaped flask with short circular neck and mouth at top, near "spine”; the whole decorated in brown glaze on a white ground, depicting book elements: front "cover" decorated with brown floral and tassel motif; "spine” with horizontal bands of brown and white; the top with brown lines denoting "pages."

Book-form Flask, 18th century
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, Bristol, RI; Patented June 6, 1905

Compliments of National India Rubber Company Matchsafe, ca. 1905
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, 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, ca. 1900
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.

Rectangular, snuff box type container, featuring vertically situated, polychrome enamel image of blond cancan dancer with right leg kicked high. She wears patterned pink dress with low bodice, white petticoats and bloomers, thigh-high black stockings and black shoes. Lid's lip or left edge curved. Lid hinged on right side. Striker on back of same long right side panel.

Cancan Dancer Matchsafe, late 19th century
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, ca. 1900
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. Squares printed with national flags, famous queens and fashionable women. Backed with roller printed cotton with half-drop design of roses. Same backing as 1980-31-3.

Patchwork Cover (USA), ca. 1910
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 candy dish with lid similar to a goblet form with a high foot. Handles opposite sides. Decorated with floral pattern of gold on dark background.

Bonbonnière And Lid (England), 1903
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.

Wallpaper designed for the French Revolution, illustrated with oak leaf wreath enclosing crossed fasces, sword & Phrygian cap. Tricolor ribbons wrapped around fluted column bear legend: "Soyons Unis/Nous Serons/Invincibles."

Sidewall And Attached Border, République Française Liberté Égalité, ca....
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.

Circular format. Six figures are grouped on the porch of a coffee plantation house in Arabia (indicated by the decorative plaque above the wall moulding. A gentleman in high hat points to a botanical book showing a drawing of the coffee plant. A man, seated at a table, appears to be holding a coffee bean pod in his right hand. To his left, a woman is pouring coffee into a cup held by a young boy. A woman, seen through the doorway (rear left) is grinding coffee beans. Another woman, seen outdoors (rear right) appears to be working at a bean roasting apparatus.

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.

Spherical coffee maker (a) having small nozzle on lower front with arched white plastic spigot (c); curved ridged white plastic handles on left and right; domed chrome lid (b) with clear ridged knob at top; fluted columnar chrome base on circular white plastic foot; “HIGH/LOW” switch on right side of column, prongs for electrical cord on back.

Coronet Coffee Maker, 1938–1942
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.

Leaf with crawling caterpillar; vein skeleton of a leaf.

Cake Tong (France), ca. 1890
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 shape with slug on stem, cat on handle.

Server (France), ca. 1890
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.

Shaped scoop showing engraved and gilded grotesque ornament.

Ice Cream Server (France), ca. 1890
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.

Cast silver, jewel encrusted tableau showing Roman soldier in full regalia seated opposite Egyptian woman reclining on couch, and fanned by standing servant; small tripod table to right of couch, holding bowl of fruit or flowers and urn on shelf below. All on rectangular plinth.

Sculptural Group (possibly Germany), late 19th century
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.

Portrait of a young woman, facing left, pouring coffee from a gilded cup into a saucer. The image is surrounded by a printed gilded frame.

Print, The Woman Taking Coffee, 1774
engraving, etching in blue, black and red ink over gold leaf, with additional....
Museum purchase through gift of George A. Hearn.
2006-3-1