Decorative items that seem to be art but are unoriginal and cheesy: it's kitsch

Magnet @ Meadows
Originally uploaded by trudeau

Kitsch refers to non-original art-like material that has some of the qualities of art. An example: reproductions of the Blue Dog by esteemed Louisiana artist George Rodrigue.

While your teacher is proud that his house is full of original art, he must admit that he has kitsch, too - and it is dear to him. Examples include numerous statuettes of Buddha and Ganesh.

Kitsch /kɪtʃ/ is a term of German or Yiddish origin, says Wikiepdiia, that has been used to categorize art that is considered an inferior, tasteless copy of an existing style.

The contemporary definition of kitsch is derogatory, denoting works executed to pander to popular demand alone and purely for commercial purposes rather than works created as self-expression by an artist.[2] The term is generally reserved for unsubstantial and gaudy works that are calculated to have popular appeal and are considered pretentious and shallow rather than genuine artistic efforts.

Your teacher's parents had a reproduction of an 18th century painting of Venice ("The Palace of the Doge") over the sofa in the living room.

"Nice try, Mom."

It was nicely-framed kitsch.