Question: where does the word bric a brac come from
Answer: Bric - à - brac or bric - a-brac ( origin French ) , first used in the Victorian era , refers to lesser objets d'art forming collections of curios , such as elaborately decorated teacups and small vases , compositions of feathers or wax flowers under glass domes , decorated eggshells , porcelain figurines , painted miniatures or photographs in stand - up frames , and so on .