Bric-à-brac
The term Bric-à-Brac comes from French and originally referred to a collection of small art, ornamental and other collectibles, for example lavishly decorated tea cups and small vases , feathers , wax flowers under glass domes, eggshells, statuettes and painted or photographed miniatures . In English , the term bric-a-brac has been around since the Victorian era when people began to display such items on mantels and tables or on shelves and display cases or display cabinets.
Nowadays, bric-à-brac refers to items of little value or junk sold at street and flea markets .
Related terms are (decorative) little things, odds and ends , knickknacks, knickknacks, trinkets .
Trivia
In the French-speaking part of Canada (especially Québec ), Bric-à-Brac describes the intentional skidding of an automobile on a frozen surface. To do this, the vehicle is accelerated and the handbrake (acting on the rear wheel) is applied when the steering wheel is jerked. So the car breaks out at the back and begins to skid. Etymologically, the phrase is a combination of English. "Bricks" for paving stones and "brake" for brakes. It was then sanded down to the similar sounding “Bric-à-Brac”.
