sgraffito

Sgraffito is a decorative technique in which a surface layer of color is scratched away to reveal a contrasting underlayer. The name comes from the Italian sgraffiare, “to scratch.” It is used most often in ceramics and pottery, but also in wall decoration, where patterns are created by removing a top layer to show a different color or clay beneath.

Technique and materials: In pottery, an engobe, slip, glaze, or underglaze of one color is applied over a clay body or over a different colored glaze. When the top layer is partly set, the artist scratches through it with a sharp tool, knife, or needle to reveal the color or pale clay below, forming lines and shapes. The piece is then fired, fixing the colors and the scratched design. For walls or plaster, a colored plaster or lime-based layer is applied over a base coat and scratched to expose the underlying color, producing a contrasting pattern.

History: Sgraffito has strong associations with Italian decorative arts, particularly in Renaissance maiolica ware, where designs were created by scratching through a colored slip to reveal a lighter body. The technique spread to other European ceramic traditions and to interior decoration, where plaster or faux finishes used the same principle of layered color revealed by scratching.

Modern use: Today, sgraffito remains popular among potters and ceramic artists who work with engobes, slips, and glazes. It is valued for its crisp lines and the tactile contrast created by the revealed layers, and it can range from simple linear motifs to elaborate figurative scenes.