found object

noun

1. a natural or manufactured object that is perceived as being aesthetically satisfying and exhibited as such.

found object

noun

1. another name for objet trouvé

Word History and Origins

Origin of found object¹

1955–60; translation of French objet trouvé

Example Sentences

Johns and Rauschenberg introduced found objects, text, photographs and the operations of chance.

From Washington Post

The labyrinth is internal in Zofie King’s cabinet filled with photos and found objects, which hint that memory is a jigsaw puzzle.

From Washington Post

The dolls are adorned with found objects that represent hard labor, such as tufts of cotton, as well as with talismans of freedom, including feathers, dried flowers and the gold oblongs that embellish the quilted “Moon Dancer.”

From Washington Post

The artists often employ found objects, frequently scavenged from nature and reimagined with a playful eye.

From Washington Post

These found scenes were rendered with found objects, including real Alabama dirt.

From Washington Post

Related Words

• found art
• objet trouvé