curio
Odd decorative object
A curio is a small object valued for its novelty, rarity, or aesthetic interest—the sort of thing displayed on a shelf or in a cabinet.
The word is short for curiosity in its sense of something unusual that arouses interest: The shop was full of curios from around the world.
A curio cabinet is a piece of furniture with glass panels for displaying such items.
Small decorative object
- trinketSmall worthless ornament
- baubleShowy, worthless ornament
- objet d'artSmall decorative collectible
- figurineSmall ornamental sculpture
tchotchke · bric-a-brac · vase · sculpture · decorative · mantelpiece · whatnot · shelf
Uncommon occurrence
- mint conditionPerfect, unused state
- limited editionSmall intentional production run
- ephemeraDisposables preserved as collectibles
- memorabiliaCollected items of significance
figurine · miniature · stamps · coins · numismatics · philately · boxed · trading cards
Surface film from aging
- heirloomInherited family treasure
- vintageQuality from past eras
- VictorianOf a prim era
- EdwardianOf early twentieth-century Britain
provenance · restoration · time-worn · bygone · antiquarian · estate sale · auction · preservation
From another nation
- unusualNot often encountered
- ethnographicDescribing cultures systematically
- importedObtained from overseas
- travelerOne who journeys
souvenir · Far East · Orient · safari · tribal · carved · ivory · jade
Strangely unusual
- strangeUnusual or unfamiliar
- quirkyIdiosyncratically unusual
- whimsicalPlayfully fanciful or erratic
- eccentricUnconventional in character
bizarre · novelty · unusual · rare · weird · wonder · marvel · anomaly
Presentation for viewing
- vitrineGlass-fronted exhibition case
- shelfHorizontal storage surface
- showcaseCabinet for displaying items
- collectionGathered set of items
gallery · museum · specimen · taxidermy · natural history · glass case · miniature · arrangement
knickknack
Small decorative object
- trinketSmall worthless ornament
- baubleShowy, worthless ornament
- objet d'artSmall decorative collectible
figurine · tchotchke · bric-a-brac · vase · sculpture · decorative · mantelpiece · whatnot · shelf · display
rarity
Uncommon occurrence
- mint conditionPerfect, unused state
- limited editionSmall intentional production run
- ephemeraDisposables preserved as collectibles
memorabilia · figurine · miniature · stamps · coins · numismatics · philately · boxed · trading cards · autographs
patina
Surface film from aging
Edwardian · provenance · restoration · time-worn · bygone · antiquarian · estate sale · auction · preservation · conservation
foreign
From another nation
- unusualNot often encountered
- ethnographicDescribing cultures systematically
- importedObtained from overseas
traveler · souvenir · Far East · Orient · safari · tribal · carved · ivory · jade · silk
peculiar
Strangely unusual
eccentric · bizarre · novelty · unusual · rare · weird · wonder · marvel · anomaly · conversation piece
display
Presentation for viewing
- vitrineGlass-fronted exhibition case
- shelfHorizontal storage surface
- showcaseCabinet for displaying items
collection · gallery · museum · specimen · taxidermy · natural history · glass case · miniature · arrangement · curated
- furniturebed, beds, chair, chairs, table
- antiquesantiques, antique furniture, antique, antique coins, Greek vases
- curiosknickknacks, knickknack, trinkets, tchotchkes, trinket
- decorationsornament, ornaments, embellishment, trim, wreaths
- Odditiesunusual, odd, strange, anomaly, weird
- souvenirssnow globe, souvenirs, magnets, magnet, keychains
- morbid curiosityInterest in disturbing things
- curious mind
- hangover cureTreatment for alcohol aftereffects
- Curious GeorgeNosy monkey character
- The CureBritish post-punk band
- miracle cureInstant, implausible healing solution
secure, cure, curious, curiosity, accurate, curate, curiously, incurious, curios