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.

Painting, Sunlight and Shadow
brush and oil paint on canvas.
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.
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.
1951-147-1-a,b

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

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.

"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 8 images of this object.

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.

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.

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....
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