sgraffito

[ skrah-fee-toh; Italian zgrahf-fee-taw ]

noun

, plural sgraf·fi·ti [skrah-, fee, -tee, zg, r, ahf-, fee, -tee].

1. a technique of ornamentation in which a surface layer of paint, plaster, slip, etc., is incised to reveal a ground of contrasting color.
2. an object, especially pottery, decorated by this technique.

sgraffito

/ sɡræˈfiːtəʊ /

noun

1. a technique in mural or ceramic decoration in which the top layer of glaze, plaster, etc, is incised with a design to reveal parts of the ground
2. such a decoration
3. an object decorated in such a way

Word History and Origins

Origin of sgraffito¹

1720–30; < Italian, past participle of sgraffire to do graffito work, derivative of sgraffio a scratch, implement for drawing, itself derivative of ( s ) graffiare to scratch, draw on plaster with a pointed tool; ex ¹, graffito

Word History and Origins

Origin of sgraffito¹

C18: from Italian, from sgraffire to scratch; see graffiti

Example Sentences

They use a wonderful kind of Venetian rustication framing deeply carved details made with layers of colored cement called sgraffito.

From New York Times

From the Italian graffiare, to scratch, sgraffito is a technique that involves placing one layer of plaster or cement over another, and then scratching through the superficial layer to reveal contours or patterns beneath.

From The Guardian

Through a technique called sgraffito, mountain designs are carved through the slip, revealing the clay below.

From Seattle Times

Pots and pitchers would have been decorated with a white liquid slip that was then scratched using a technique known as sgraffito to produce designs or patterns.

From BBC

“All these artists were trained not only to create mosaics, but also murals, sgraffito, stained glass windows and bas relief,” said Dennis Keen, an Almaty-based American who runs the Monumental Almaty blog.

From The Guardian