bric-a-brac
Shelf-cluttering small ornaments
Bric-a-brac is miscellaneous small decorative objects, typically of little value—the figurines, ornamental plates, and curios that accumulate on shelves and mantels: The house was cluttered with bric-a-brac from decades of travel.
The term often carries a faintly dismissive tone, suggesting knickknacks rather than serious collectibles.
Inherited family treasure
- vintageQuality from past eras
- relicPreserved ancient object
- VictorianOf a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
patina · provenance · curio · auction · time-worn · estate-sale · flea-market · secondhand
Worthless discarded items
- clutterUntidy collection of items
- uselessWithout practical value
- cheapLow in price
- tackyVulgar or slightly sticky
gaudy · kitsch · tawdry · gewgaw · gimcrack · bauble · doodad · garage-sale
Item preserved for sentiment
- mementoToken of recollection
- souvenirToken from a trip
- trinketSmall worthless ornament
- tokenRepresentative placeholder
remembrance · nostalgia · memories · cherished · treasured · sentimental · heirloom · family
Small ornamental sculpture
- vaseOrnamental container for flowers
- porcelainTranslucent fired clay
- ceramicFired clay material
- statuetteMiniature sculpted figure
ornament · miniature · pottery · china · glassware · crystal · enamel · lacquerware
Mixed collection of things
- miscellanyAssorted collection of items
- curiositiesUnusual things worth examining
- hodgepodgeConfused, disorderly mixture
- potpourriFragrant dried petal mixture
motley · mismatched · varied · oddments · sundries · random · quirky · whimsical
Confused disorderly collection
- disarrayLack of order
- hoardingExcessive accumulation of goods
- untidyLacking neatness or order
- scatterDistribute in random directions
heap · pile · accumulation · dust-collector · overcrowded · mantelpiece · whatnot · cabinet
heirloom
Inherited family treasure
Edwardian · patina · provenance · curio · auction · time-worn · estate-sale · flea-market · secondhand · dusty
junk
Worthless discarded items
tacky · gaudy · kitsch · tawdry · gewgaw · gimcrack · bauble · doodad · garage-sale · castoff
keepsake
Item preserved for sentiment
token · remembrance · nostalgia · memories · cherished · treasured · sentimental · heirloom · family · inherited
figurine
Small ornamental sculpture
statuette · ornament · miniature · pottery · china · glassware · crystal · enamel · lacquerware · snuffbox
assortment
Mixed collection of things
- miscellanyAssorted collection of items
- curiositiesUnusual things worth examining
- hodgepodgeConfused, disorderly mixture
potpourri · motley · mismatched · varied · oddments · sundries · random · quirky · whimsical · fanciful
jumble
Confused disorderly collection
scatter · heap · pile · accumulation · dust-collector · overcrowded · mantelpiece · whatnot · cabinet · corner
- Victorianaseances, Dickens, spiritualism, Sherlock Holmes, phrenology
- clutterclutter, junk, mess, stuff, debris
- curioscurios, curio, curiosities, curiosity, knickknacks
- flea marketsvendors, stalls, booths, bargains, haggling
- home decorvase, candles, lamps, cushions, artwork
- knickknackstchotchkes, trinkets, curios, gewgaws, gimcracks
bric-a-bracessentials
Indispensable items or elements
tools · necessities · appliances · equipment · workhorses
bric-a-bracvaluables
Possessions of significant worth
heirlooms · treasures · masterpieces · fine art · crown jewels