Hatched Ornament

Hatched ornament is a technique of applying a pattern using short, thin parallel or diverging lines. This method is often found in the decoration of 18th–19th century porcelain and silver items: it was used to achieve an effect of light surface vibration, elegant shimmer of light, and play of textures. Craftsmen used the strictest precision, because all expressiveness is based not on color, but on the rhythm of lines.

In auction practice, objects with rare motifs drawn by hatching are valued higher: such decoration is more difficult to execute, and a small flaw spoils the entire design.

An interesting case is the famous "Straw", a plate with thousands of hand-applied strokes, due to which the work was mistaken for real straw.