craquelure

See also: Craquelure

English

WOTD – 13 November 2008

Etymology

Borrowed from French craquelure.

Pronunciation

  • (US) IPA(key): /kɹæk.əˈlʊə/, /kɹæk.əˈljʊə/
  • (US) IPA(key): /kɹæk.əˈlʊɹ/, /kɹæk.əˈljʊɹ/
  • Audio (US):(file)
    ,
    Audio (US):(file)

Noun

craquelure (countable and uncountable, plural craquelures)

  1. (painting) The distinctive pattern of hairline cracks in the surface of an old painting.
    • 1914, Clive Bell, Art[1]:
      Documentary evidence is what he prefers; but, failing that, he will put up with a cunning concoction of dates and watermarks, cabalistic signatures, craquelure, patina, chemical properties of paint and medium, paper and canvas, all sorts of collateral evidence, historical and biographical, and racy tricks of brush or pen.
    • 2005, Cory Doctorow, Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town[2]:
      Alan squinted. It was the robot, the one he’d given her, the pretty thing with the Dutch Master craquelure up its tuna-can skirts.

Derived terms

Translations

See also

French

Etymology

From craqueler +‎ -ure.

Pronunciation

Noun

craquelure f (plural craquelures)

  1. a small crack, usually in paint, glaze, varnish and similar substances

Descendants

  • English: craquelure
  • German: Craquelure
  • Italian: craquelure

Further reading