noun
(also objet de virtu)
An article that is interesting because of its antiquity, beauty, quality of workmanship, etc.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in Vanity Fair. From objet + de + vertu, variant of virtu, probably after French objet d'art objet d'art. There is no corresponding phrase in French; the required sense of French vertu does not exist.
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