Scraffiato

Contemporary with Italian Maiolica, another less popular decorative style existed in Italy called Scraffiato.  The word Scraffiato means "to scratch" and, as the name implies, this style involves taking a dark red clay vessel covering it in a white slip and scratching the design in the surface. After firing, the piece is covered in a clear glaze.  Frequently, metal oxides are applied to the surface in a random pattern and the colors frequently run during the second firing. This decorative style did not originate in Italy, but like maiolica began in the Middle East .

	Scraffiato jug          $50.00 Padua, 15th or 16th century These jugs are base on one in the Gardiner Museum in Canada.  I don't have a book reference for it because a friend took the picture when visiting the museum.  These jugs differ from the original in that I did not paint metal oxides of the surface.