curio

noun

1. A strange and interesting object; something that evokes curiosity.

   “Staghorn ferns, with their antlerlike leaves, are really curios of ferndom and never fail to gain attention.”

   “Video telephony is just about the only new technology from that particular movie that has appeared—and it was technically possible when the movie was showing. 2001 can be seen as a curio, but what about Star Trek?”

   “upon his arrival, Lewis discovers that his uncle’s place is no threadbare bachelor pad. It’s a creaky old Victorian mansion, full of overstuffed chairs, flocked wallpaper, stained glass, creepy carnival curios, and dozens and dozens of clocks.”