objet d’art

Fabergé eggs make excellent objets d’art.

ōb-zhay DAHR´

(French for ‘art object’)

An objet d’art is a small decorative object that one might place in an étagère.

(Be careful with the plural: it’s objets d’art, not objet d’arts.)

To qualify as an objet d’art, a piece must possess a certain
degree of artistic merit. Examples include jeweled items meant
for display (such as Fabergé eggs), fine glassware, porcelain figurines,
small vases, and miniature paintings.

In addition to finding homes in étagères, objets d’art are often
displayed on coffee (or cocktail) tables, desks, and side tables.

Yesterday I found the perfect objet d’art to
put in the étagère in the living room.