| Sgraffito Pottery was once considered to be the | | | | There are certainly quite a number of very |
| vessels of kings. From the Byzantine emperors to | | | | expensive places online to purchase this art but it |
| the Russian czars, Sgraffito has been the | | | | can be difficult to find nice yet affordable Sgriffito |
| earthenware for the "blue-bloods" of Europe's | | | | Pottery. A lot of these places were well out of |
| finest houses. Sgraffito Pottery is defined by the | | | | my price range. But I saw a couple of fine, |
| intricate designs that have been actually scratched | | | | affordable examples at Plimoth Plantation in |
| into the surface of the clay before firing. This sort | | | | Plymouth MA when we were on vacation on |
| of pottery is often made with bold colors and | | | | Cape Cod. The Plantation is a living history |
| coated with a lighter liquid clay for contrast. It is | | | | museum where costumed interpreters portray |
| at this point that the designs are scratched into | | | | actual people from the founding of the first English |
| the pottery showing the base color underneath. | | | | colony in New England. In addition to this |
| This type of earth ware can be traced all the | | | | wonderful recreation they have an excellent craft |
| way back to the Sung Dynasty of China. There is | | | | center where you can not only watch modern |
| a vase called the "T'zu-Chou vase that dates to | | | | artisans, potters, furniture makers, embroiderers |
| the 11th to 12th century AD. That said Sgraffito | | | | and native crafts people, design and create their |
| can be found in many of the world's ancient | | | | wares, but you can buy these fine gifts as well. In |
| cultures. It became quite popular among the many | | | | addition to the plates I bought I managed to pick |
| courts of Renaissance Italy. It is a style of | | | | up a pitcher and a couple of cups as well. I want |
| pottery that is fast becoming quite collectible and | | | | to pick up a couple more cups as gifts so |
| sought after. | | | | fortunately the have an online gift shop. |