bibelot
noun

- a small, decorative ornament or trinket

- a small object of curiosity, beauty, or rarity

Oxford Languages, Dictionary Com

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WORD ORIGIN

The word "bibelot" entered English in the late 1800s and has an interesting etymology. It was derived from the Old French word beubelet, meaning "trinket" or "jewel".

The evolution of the word reflects a trend in the 19th century of creating fanciful English words from French origins.

Today, "bibelot" refers to a small decorative object, trinket, or curiosity, maintaining its connection to beautiful or interesting small items.

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DECORATIVE DELIGHTS

During the 19th century, wealthy travelers would often collect bibelots as souvenirs from their grand tours, creating personal museums of their adventures.

The European aristocracy in particular, prized small, intricate miniatures,… from porcelain figurines to jeweled snuff boxes. The Russian Tsars famously commissioned the House of Fabergé to create exquisite jeweled eggs, each a masterpiece of miniaturization and luxury. These bibelots became symbols of opulence and were often exchanged as diplomatic gifts.

If you’re a “collector” like me, your mantelpieces and shelves are decorated with trinkets from far-away places, small gifts, and ornaments. You may even have a glass cabinet or two with carefully arranged decorative objects.

Bibelots not only serve as decorative delights, but also as conversation starters, each with its own unique story.

- Paul Smith

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SYNONYMS

adornment, bauble, BIBELOT, bric-a-brac, collectible, conversation piece, curiosity, curio, decoration, decorative item, dust catcher, eye candy, fancy, figurine, finery, frippery, gewgaw, gimcrack, keepsake, kickshaw, knick-knack, memento, miniaturized art, miniatures, novelty item, objet d'art, oddment,  ornament, ornamentation, precious piece, showpiece, souvenir, small treasure, sparklers, tchotchke, tiny treasure, trifle, trinket, trinketry, treasurelet, trumpery, vest-pocket art, whimsy

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SMUGGLE OWAD into a sentence, say something like:

“I can’t resist buying a BIBELOT or two when visiting flea markets… if only those objects could speak, what tales they would tell!”

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