The Carolyn Hsu-Balcer Collection | People | Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum

We have 4 objects involving The Carolyn Hsu-Balcer Collection

Silver cheroot holder with a mouthpiece made of an early plastic. A cross-hatched design of skyscrapers has been engraved around the whole of the holder. There are three convex sterling bands where the silver meets the plastic.

Object ID #907216427
silver, casein formaldehyde.
The Carolyn Hsu-Balcer Collection.
73.2016.3

A cigarette holder fabricated in colorful plastic with a streamlined body. The light green area used for the mouthpiece is rounded then progresses into a form with squarish corners for more than half of the body. The attached part has a small dark section, probably used as a filter for the smoke. It is attached to the remainder of the body having squarish sides, manufactured in tan plastic that expands slightly into the opening where a green plastic covers the corners at the tip. The photograph captures the cigarette holder against a light gray background.

Object ID #907216417
plastic.
The Carolyn Hsu-Balcer Collection.
73.2016.5

Six matching tabletop sets. Each set is on a translucent rectilinear tray with coral balls for feet. Gold studs drilled into the tray hold the coral in place. The corners of the tray are rounded and on each tray are two upright rectangular nephrite slabs into which four holes have been drilled. Each of four cigarettes fits into the holes. The nephrite is held in place near the bottom with a long smooth bolt that has a large head. Each slab has a thin gold band near the top that goes around it. Just below the band is a small tube-set cabochon ruby. There is space behind the slab for a place card to go.

One Of A Set Of Six Place Card Holders, Cigarette Holders, And Ashtrays, 1924
nephrite, jade, coral, gold, rubies.
The Carolyn Hsu-Balcer Collection.
73.2016.4

18K cigarette holder with spiral engraving on the third nearest the cigarette hole. There are a few small round diamonds set into the area of the spiraling. The remainder of the holder is fashioned with gold links which end at a tortoise shell mouth piece.

Object ID #907216413
18-karat gold, diamond, tortoiseshell.
The Carolyn Hsu-Balcer Collection.
73.2016.2