decorative art

American  

noun

1. art that is meant to be useful as well as beautiful, as ceramics, furniture, jewelry, and textiles.

2. Usually decorative arts. any of the arts, as ceramics or jewelry making, whose works are created to be useful.

3. works of decorative art collectively.

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Etymology

Origin of decorative art

First recorded in 1850–55

Example Sentences

Prints, paintings and works of decorative art document the philosophies, pivotal events and major figures of the time, from the Boston Massacre and Paul Revere to indigenous conflicts and George Washington.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 18, 2026

“People have gotten more and more creative, and we have a lot more elaborate costumes and decorative art that people have built.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 17, 2022

He was also navigating the minefield of cultural appropriation: Would such decorative art assume a different significance when used by an African, African-American or white photographer in a shoot?

From New York Times • Dec. 3, 2020

The Shenandoah Valley Scrollers carve out wood and other materials with a scroll saw to create everything from spoons, boxes and trivets, to beautiful and intricate decorative art pieces.

From Washington Times • Jun. 4, 2017

It is the ultimate perfection of decorative art.

From The Story of Florence by Gardner, Edmund G.