noun
- an alloy of copper and zinc resembling gold, used especially in Asian jewelry and decorative objects
Usage: archaic; historical
Examples
- The antique bracelet was made of tambac rather than real gold.
- Craftsmen in Southeast Asia traditionally used tambac for ornamental work.
- The museum’s collection includes several tambac artifacts from the 18th century.
- Tambac was popular because it provided the appearance of gold at a lower cost.
- The jeweler explained that the vintage piece was tambac, not solid gold.