Since its inception in 1876 the Philadelphia Museum of Art has consistently acquired important examples of contemporary design and decorative arts. Curator Kathryn Bloom Hiesinger reveals how historically conservative Philadelphia gradually embraced modernism amassing a large and impressive collection of furniture textiles and household items. Among the holdings of the museum seen here in more than 300 color photographs are luminous vases by Louis Comfort Tiffany organic appealing chairs by Charles and Ray Eames a dada-esque fish lamp by Frank O. Gehry a chess set by Max Ernst and a stylized toilet by Gio Ponti.