In art history, the French term objet d'art (/ËÉbÊeÉȘ ËdÉËr/ ; French pronunciation: [ÉbÊÉ daÊ]) describes an ornamental work of art, and the term objets dâart describes a range of works of art, usually small and three-dimensional, made of high-quality materials, and a finely-rendered finish that emphasises the aesthetics of the artefact. Artists create and produce objets dâart in the fields of the decorative arts and metalwork, porcelain and vitreous enamel; figurines, plaquettes, and engraved gems; ivory carvings and semi-precious hardstone carvings; tapestries, antiques, and antiquities; and books with fine bookbinding.
The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, describes their accumulated artworks as a: "collection of objets dâart [which] comprises over 800 objects. These are mostly small, decorative art items that fall outside the scope of the Museumâs ceramic, plate, textiles and glass collections." The artwork collection also includes metal curtain ties, a lacquered papier-machĂ© tray, tobacco boxes, cigarette cases, dĂ©coupage (cut-paper items), portrait miniatures, a gilt-brass clock finial, plaques, statuettes, plaquettes, a horse brass, a metal pipe tamper, a small glass painting, et cetera.