decorative art

noun

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of decorative art

1 : art that is concerned primarily with the creation of useful items (such as furniture, ceramics, or textiles) —usually used in plural

2 : objects of decorative art

Recent Examples of decorative art from the Web

The craze for exoticism in the decorative arts reached a fever pitch; textiles were littered with pagodas and conical hats catering to growing tastes for Japonism.

— lilah ramzi, Vogue, "This Textile Has Been All Over Vogue—Here’s Where It Came From," 1 June 2018
The afternoon affair featured paintings, furniture, plateware, and other decorative arts items owned by the billionaire Campbell Soup Co. heiress, who died at 88 in April 2017.

— grace dickinson, Philly.com, "Campbell heiress Dodo Hamilton's home goods bring in $4.9 million at auction in a near sell-out," 1 May 2018
Elsewhere, posters, textiles, decorative arts and furniture illustrate the themes.

— judith h. dobrzynski, WSJ, "‘Saturated: The Allure and Science of Color’ Review: Vibrant From Any Angle," 26 May 2018
Marc Auclert, a decorative arts historian whose Paris store, steps from Place Vendôme, is a treasure chest of ancient intaglios and cameos fashioned a new, points to the 19th century.

— stellene volandes, Town & Country, "Cameo Jewelry Is Having a Moment," 3 May 2018
Jewelry, English and European furniture, European ceramics, Chinese export porcelain, and silver and American decorative arts are also for sale.

— NBC News, "Massive Rockefeller family art auction opens with $646 million haul," 9 May 2018
Quilts are also highly personal, said Amelia Peck, a curator of American decorative arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

— max berlinger, New York Times, "This Old Thing? Quilts Hit the Catwalk," 9 May 2018
Inner Loop Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens MFAH house museum for American decorative arts, paintings and furniture.

— ana khan, Houston Chronicle, "Local museums entertain, educate," 9 May 2018
Readers in Dallas have an affinity for 20cdesign.com, which buys and sells 20th-century furniture, fine art, and decorative arts.

— megan barber, Curbed, "Where to buy midcentury furniture, according to Curbed readers," 4 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decorative art.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.