objet d'art

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French for "object of art" or "art object." An objet d'art is usually small, possesses unique artistic value, and is cherished for its beauty or special artistic meaning. A term that is sometimes used in a patronizing, or cynical, fashion to describe the objects displayed by a dilettante, or pretentious, collector.

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"Ivory dragon netsuke, from Japan, circa 1500-1700," photograph by Veronika Brazdova.

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