Scraffito is a form of decoration that involves scratching or carving to reveal a different-colored layer of material underneath. It literally means "scratched" in Italian and has been a popular decorating technique beginning in the 15th and 16th centuries using ceramics and plaster. In the case of these lovely ceramic works, students created a bowl with their artwork, dyed it black with underglaze, and carved into it to make these lovely designs. They were instructed to just use line and shape to create an engaging pattern. Once complete, students used a clear gloss glaze to make it shiny.