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