period piece

American  

noun

1. something, as a novel, painting, or building, of interest or value primarily because it evokes or epitomizes a particular period of history.

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period piece British  

noun

1. an object, a piece of music, a play, etc, valued for its quality of evoking a particular historical period: often one regarded as of little except historical interest

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Etymology

Origin of period piece

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

This period piece almost seems to believe Agnes is inventing each emotion.

From Los Angeles Times

Created by Mike Makowsky, it isn’t free from theatrical effects, dramatic overreach or obvious statements, but as period pieces go, it’s unusually persuasive, in big and little ways.

From Los Angeles Times

Why make a period piece out of a period piece?

From The Wall Street Journal

Those decadent period pieces were like elaborate jewel settings designed to showcase Stone’s range.

From Los Angeles Times

He says “Oklahoma!” is “nostalgic for a world that never existed,” but such a charge could be lobbed at many other wonderful period pieces.

From The Wall Street Journal