craquelure

plural craquelures

1. countableuncountablepaintingThe distinctive pattern of hairline cracks in the surface of an old painting.

   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.

   2005, Cory Doctorow, Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town

   1 more example

   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.

   1914, Clive Bell, Art