craquelure

[ krak-loo r, krak-loo r; French krakuh-lyr ]
/ krækˈlʊər, ˈkræk lʊər; French krakəˈlür /

noun, plural cra·que·lures [krak-loo rz, krak-loo rz; French krakuh-lyr] /krækˈlʊərz, ˈkræk lʊərz; French krakəˈlür/.

a network of fine cracks or crackles on the surface of a painting, caused chiefly by shrinkage of paint film or varnish.

Origin of craquelure

1910–15; < French, equivalent to craquel(er) to crackle, crack (imitative) + -ure -ure

British Dictionary definitions for craquelure

craquelure
/ (ˈkrækəlʊə) /

noun

a network of fine cracks on old paintings caused by the deterioration of pigment or varnish

Word Origin for craquelure

C20: from French, from craqueler to crackle, from craquer to crack, of imitative origin