Drawing by Scratching
Sgraffito (from the Italian word for "scratched") is one of pottery's oldest and most direct decorative techniques. You coat the pot in a layer of colored slip or underglaze, let it firm slightly, then scratch through that layer to reveal the clay body color beneath. The contrast between the coating and the clay creates the design.
The Beautiful Contrast
The magic of sgraffito is the two-tone quality. For example:
- A dark brown clay pot coated with white slip: scratching through reveals warm brown lines on a white field.
- A white stoneware pot coated with black underglaze: scratching reveals bright white lines against black.
- A red earthenware pot coated with a terracotta-colored slip: subtle, tonal work.
The color combination determines the character of the whole piece, so choose deliberately.
The Setup
- Apply the slip or underglaze coating to leather-hard greenware. Apply it thickly enough to be opaque: two coats is usually sufficient.
- Let it firm slightly but not dry completely. The slip should be dry to the touch but still slightly flexible, not powdery. This stage is sometimes called "stiff slip."
- Scratch through with a sgraffito tool, a pin tool, a dental pick, a nail, or any pointed implement.
Sgraffito Tools
Almost anything with a point or edge works. The width of the tool determines the line width. Try:
- Pin tool: fine, precise lines.
- Loop tool: wider, textured strokes.
- Fork: parallel lines.
- Rubber-tipped tool: removes small areas cleanly.
Contrast Planning Checklist
Before coating:
- Choose high-contrast clay and slip pairing
- Test line width on sample tile
- Decide which areas stay coated vs revealed
Good contrast decisions make designs read clearly after firing.
Keep Exploring
Sgraffito has a rich history well beyond the pottery studio. The Wikipedia article on sgraffito covers its use on Renaissance building facades and Greek island villages, where entire walls are decorated with scratched geometric patterns. The technique works on any layered surface, and the article on earthenware explains why red clay bodies are a classic choice for the high-contrast reveal that makes sgraffito so striking.
