Sgraffito

Sgraffito (plural: graffito; Mz Sgraffition; rare Scraffito, German sgraffito ) is sgraffiare from the Italian verb, German scrape derived. Actually, it represents a brushing technique, because it usually comes on a plaster applied: This is a historical technology for the treatment of wall surfaces by circulation of different colored layers of plaster that was used especially in Italy and Bohemia of the 16th century.

Sgraffito is counted among the stucco techniques. Analogously, certain " Scratch Techniques" for other color order types called sgraffito (eg in the Aquarellistik ).

Dissemination

Played a major role the sgraffito technique for decades during the Renaissance in Italy. In the 16th century it was brought by the Renaissance architects in Germany and Austria and received by the formative craftsmen with enthusiasm. As a simple folk art one finds old sgraffito since the 13th century in the wider area of the Wetterau and Marburg in the country. The brushing technique in Thuringia, in Vierlanden and in the Engadine, in Austria and Transylvania was applied. But above all, it is widespread in Bavaria, for example, in the courtyard of the City Palace in Neuburg an der Donau.

Are predominant native motifs. Furthermore, sgraffito in use for the design of building facades for advertising purposes. In combination with ornamental decoration of this design technique meant an alternative to the usual wall painting.

Technology

The craftsmanship process is very easy. The prerequisites are the same as in the fresco painting: Over a rough, thin plaster key is held not to be a strong compensating layer of Breikalk and sharp sand 1:3 fired up and taken off only with the straight edge. In pulling, not more than 0.5 cm, a mortar layer of the same or only slightly kalkreicherem mixing ratio, which is dyed with a light-and lime resistant pigment.

This layer is followed by a further, in which most of the natural color is left in mortar, which only differ by the color failure of the sand. In their place, a simple limewash may occur, which is painted with a broad brush in two or three layers and is possibly still felted or deducted clean with a smoothing disc. The craftsman carves, cuts or scratches in the fresh, soft plaster lines and surfaces, so that the solid colored layer is currently visible. These are variously shaped loops and forged scraper.

With multi-colored sgraffito technique is difficult because the screen layout must be reversed: First the details are created, the contours are not visible until the end. Therefore, an extensive advance planning is needed to create it. Popular technology is because of their long shelf life, even under adverse weather conditions.

Recently, there is an unmistakable increasing interest in this ancient art, since they can be used very well as a means of artistic expression in its various embodiments.