Exotica
Foreign curiosities collected
Exotica refers to things that are strikingly unusual, foreign, or unfamiliar—objects, customs, or cultural artifacts from distant places that seem glamorously strange.
The term often carries a mid-20th-century connotation, evoking tiki bars, travel souvenirs, and lounge music meant to suggest faraway lands: The shop was filled with exotica from Southeast Asia.
Exotica can also name a genre of easy-listening music featuring unusual instruments and tropical themes.
Ideal, blissful place
- palm treesTropical plants with fronds
- tiki barTropical-themed watering hole
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
- orchidsTropical flowering plants
hibiscus · jungle · island · bamboo · rattan · Polynesia · Hawaiian · Caribbean
Unusual things worth examining
- raritiesUncommon or scarce items
- specimensRepresentative items for examination
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
- odditiesUnusual or strange things
curios · antiques · objets · memorabilia · souvenirs · taxidermy · shells · masks
Exaggerated mockery or risqué variety
- stripteaseSeductive gradual undressing
- pinupAttractive poster subject
- risqueBordering on improper
- titillationPleasurable, teasing excitement
seduction · forbidden · taboo · provocative · tantalizing · fetish · lingerie · alluring
Comfortable waiting room
- tikiPolynesian deity figure
- vibraphoneMotorized resonator percussion
- birdcallsAvian vocalizations
- bachelor padSingle man's dwelling
stereo · cocktail · hi-fi · space age · bongos · marimba · mood music · easy listening
Quality of being unlike
- unfamiliarityLack of prior knowledge
- strangenessQuality of being peculiar
- farawayAt great distance
- mystiqueAura of fascination
allure · curiosity · intrigue · difference · alien · outlandish · peculiarity · novelty
paradise
Ideal, blissful place
- palm treesTropical plants with fronds
- tiki barTropical-themed watering hole
- lagoonSheltered coastal shallows
orchids · hibiscus · jungle · island · bamboo · rattan · Polynesia · Hawaiian · Caribbean · sultry
curiosities
Unusual things worth examining
- raritiesUncommon or scarce items
- specimensRepresentative items for examination
- artifactsHuman-made historical objects
oddities · curios · antiques · objets · memorabilia · souvenirs · taxidermy · shells · masks · fetishes
burlesque
Exaggerated mockery or risqué variety
- stripteaseSeductive gradual undressing
- pinupAttractive poster subject
- risqueBordering on improper
titillation · seduction · forbidden · taboo · provocative · tantalizing · fetish · lingerie · alluring · temptation
lounge
Comfortable waiting room
- tikiPolynesian deity figure
- vibraphoneMotorized resonator percussion
- birdcallsAvian vocalizations
bachelor pad · stereo · cocktail · hi-fi · space age · bongos · marimba · mood music · easy listening · ambient
otherness
Quality of being unlike
- unfamiliarityLack of prior knowledge
- strangenessQuality of being peculiar
- farawayAt great distance
mystique · allure · curiosity · intrigue · difference · alien · outlandish · peculiarity · novelty · unknown
Exoticaeveryday items
Common household objects
household goods · local crafts · home goods · native artifacts
- exotic localeUnfamiliar, alluring destination
- exotic petsUncommon domesticated animals
- exotic animalsNon-domesticated foreign species
- exotic birdsUnusual avian species
- exotic fruitUncommon imported produce
- exotic meat