ouvrages témoins

17:49 Jul 10, 2009 

I've encountered cases where "miniature" windows have been built (and in my days as a vacation-period joiner I even made them) so people can see the materials used, the workmanship, etc.

Re. "ouvrages", yes, usually it would be a "built" item (possibly a panel of tiling, as opposed to loose tiles for instance) but I wouldn't like to bet a lot of money on it being ONLY that ...

17:21 Jul 10, 2009 

Does "ouvrages" imply something that is constructed, rather than a bought in component like a tile or a door handle?

17:18 Jul 10, 2009 

Depends how big they are and how much space you have to store them. I've kept tiles and carpet samples, even bricks till the end of a job, but windows tend 1) to be too big and 2) not usually to be lent long term by the supplier.

09:34 Jul 10, 2009 

Barbara has a point, but it's not obvious to me, from what we've got, that these items are kept for reference. Certainly if you have "échantillons" somewhere in your text it would be reasonable to assume your "ouvrages témoins" are something different.

As it turns out "sample" might work either way:
sample panel, reference p. A small area of brick facework built before bricklaying begins and used as the standard for workmanship.
[Scott/Penguin Dict. of Bldg]

I have encountered cases where sample tiles and countertops and small window units etc. were kept for comparison with the finished works, maybe only because somebody once got their fingers burnt!