sgraffito

American  

[skrah-fee-toh, zgrahf-fee-taw] / skrɑˈfi toʊ, zgrɑfˈfi tɔ /

noun

sgraffiti plural

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.

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sgraffito British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• sgraffiti
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sgraffito

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; see ex ¹, graffito

Example Sentences

Sgraffito, a decorative wall painting, produced by layers of plaster applied to a moistened surface and afterwards operated on so as to produce a picture.

From The Nuttall Encyclopædia Being a Concise and Comprehensive Dictionary of General Knowledge by Nuttall, P. Austin

Sgraffito work may claim a special aptitude for design whose centre of aim is line.

From Arts and Crafts Essays by Members of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society by Various

Sgraffito ware found in colonial sites in Virginia and Maryland is from a common source.

From North Devon Pottery and Its Export to America in the 17th Century by Watkins, C. Malcolm

The Italian words Graffiato, Sgraffiato, or Sgraffito, mean "Scratched," and scratched work is the oldest form of graphic expression and surface decoration used by man.

From Arts and Crafts Essays by Members of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society by Various