decorative art

noun

: art that is concerned primarily with the creation of useful items (such as furniture, ceramics, or textiles)

—usually used in plural

: objects of decorative art

Examples of decorative art in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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But for now, at least, the Louvre’s decorative arts department has one of the best stage sets for showing fashion — namely, the apartments of Emperor Napoleon III. —

Elaine Sciolino, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025 Historically, textile art has too often been marginalised due to its perception as a domestic decorative art practice primarily by women. —

Lee Sharrock, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024 Sotheby’s has been consigned a large collection of Old Master paintings, sculptures, English furniture and other decorative art objects from the collection of Aso O. Tavitian. —

Karen K. Ho, ARTnews.com, 4 Nov. 2024 Design teams also harness traditional decorative arts techniques to magnify the tensions of establishing a home in the U.S. —

Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decorative art

Word History

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of decorative art was in 1853

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Decorative art.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decorative%20art. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

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