Rococo City: Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

Today's Geo Quiz is very Rococo. Have you ever wondered where the term "Rococo" comes from?

"It's based on the word "rocaille" which is the French word for shell encrusted rock work of the type that appears in grottos, combined with the Italian word "barocco" for Baroque and the idea being that this is sort of rock and shell encrusted baroque gone to the extreme."

Think "over the top" or maybe "bling". But remember that Rococo art made its debut during the age of Louis XV back in the 18th century. One city in France was a haven for Rococo artists and it's the city we're looking for in our quiz today.

Place Stanislas

It's located in northeastern France in the region of Lorraine. Wrought iron gates, hand carved furniture, even snuff boxes there were lavishly adorned with Rococo curves and flowing designs.

Covered tureen and platter: Juste-Aurele Meissonnier (French 1695-1750) photo courtesy of the Smithsonian's Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum from its exhibition, Rococo: The Continuing Curve, 1730–2008

More about a major new exhibit of this stuff is a click away, but first name the French city of Rococo...