Sgraffito definition a technique of ornamentation in which a surface layer of paint plaster slip etc is incised to reveal a ground of contrasting color.
What is sgraffito in ceramics.
The design is scratched on the surface of the pieces before the first firing and the final painting.
Sgraffiti is a technique either of wall decor produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colours to a moistened surface or in pottery by applying to an unfired ceramic body two successive layers of contrasting slip or glaze and then in either case scratching so as to reveal parts of the underlying layer.
Sgraffito is a decorative technique in which a layer of color is applied to a leather hard unfired piece of pottery and then the design carved out.
Sgraffito pottery was once considered to be the vessels of kings.
In these pieces everything white has been carved out with a small knife and loop tool.
It s a painstaking and time consuming process with many different steps.
The piece is then fired to glazed with a clear.
The sgraffito ceramics are completely handmade today as they were centuries ago.
From the byzantine emperors to the russian czars sgraffito has been the earthenware for the blue bloods of europe s finest houses.