Classic St. Innocent Chapel Sgraffito Tile

Sgraffito (Italian: [zɡrafˈfiːto]; plural: sgraffiti; sometimes spelled scraffito) is a technique either of wall decor, produced by applying layers of plaster tinted in contrasting colors to a moistened surface, and then in either case scratching so as to reveal parts of the underlying layer. Sgraffito and sgraffiti come from the Italian word graffiare (“to scratch”), ultimately from the Greek γράφειν (gráphein, “to write”). Related terms include graffito and graffiti.

Similar to Fresco, Sgraffito on walls has been used by all civilizations that have used plasters in their building systems. In Europe we find examples of sgraffito since classical times, it was greatly popularized in Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries. In combination with ornamental decoration these techniques formed an alternative to the prevailing painting of walls. The technical procedure is relatively simple, and the procedures are similar to the painting of frescoes.