period piece

English

Noun

period piece (plural period pieces)

1. A work of art or drama which evokes a particular historical era.
2. A work which evokes the era in which it was produced, but may not have any other especial features.
   • 1950, Norman Lindsay, Dust or Polish?, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 75:

     Paying for these buyings, and arranging for their cartage to the shop, she got away, feeling physically tired but mentally elated, and very anxious to hear what Peter would say about the quality of her period pieces, and what prospects they offered for restoration.

   • 1954 August, J. B. Snell, “The New Zealand Government Railways—2”, in Railway Magazine, page 558:

     Other designs of this period were the old "J" class 2-6-0s, built in England, the Baldwin "T" class 2-8-0s of 1879, splendid American period pieces, and the old "K" class 2-4-2s built by Rogers of Philadelphia.