This entry sits within the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub indexing design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
Sgraffito is a scratched pottery decoration, first used in China, which spread across Europe via Persia. The vessel is immersed in slip, and then the decoration is scratched on the surface to reveal the darker body below. It was often used with maiolica from Italy.
Additional Reading
Hatch, M. (2015). New Ceramic Surface Design: Learn to inlay, stamp, stencil, draw, and paint on Clay. Quarry Books.
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