Mosaic Tiles

The art of decorative mosaic work or making pictures using glazed ceramic mosaic tiles has been with us for many centuries, there have been examples of fine mosaics found dating back to 4th century BC and beyond. Before ceramic tiles were used for mosaics, the mosaic pieces were made from coloured stones and bits of broken shells.

Decorative mosaic tile work

Craft mosaic tiles

Mosaics were used for decoration both inside houses and in the exterior courtyards. They were also used in churches, cathedrals and temples to create religious images in spiritual praise. The Roman Empire saw the creation of some fantastic mosaics, the largest collection of which can be found in a Roman villa in Sicily.

The Roman mosaics

The villa, in Italy, was built during the 4th century and the mosaics of antique glass tesserae were buried by a landslide in the 12th century which protected them until later discovery. They are now considered to be a World Heritage Site and protected by UNESCO. More recently some wonderful mosaics have been uncovered in Libya inside a Roman villa. The bath house has a 34 foot length of figurative mosaic decorating its walls with scenes of young men grappling with a deer and other scenes. The Romans were the first to use mosaic patterns in their work and many wonderful borders can be seen around the walls of their beautifully designed bath houses and lodges and on the floor tiles that pave them.

Tourism and Italian mosaics

Minute mosaics

Many minute mosaics were produced in areas of Italy simply for the tourist market, they depicted many of the most common tourist views of lakes, mountains and landscapes they also pictured images of famous churches or cathedrals and traditional religious Italian imagery. These were made from minute tesserae or small ceramic or glass tiles that were stuck onto the polished surface of gold broaches or small gold boxes such as snuff boxes, they were also used as small insets on furniture and enamel jewelry. Most of these were bought by visitors on the Grand Tour as they were small enough to be easily packed and carried with them.

Mini mosaics

These smaller mosaics or micro mosaics as they were known originated during Roman times and many fine examples of their work have been excavated particularly in Pompeii. The smallest examples of micro mosaics can see them using between 3-5000 pieces of tesserae per square inch.

Gaudi - mosaic genius

Antoni Gaudi was a leader in the use of mosaics in the contemporary art scene his highly stylized works are fully displayed in a spectacular site specific installation in Parc Guell on the outskirts of Barcelona. The site was originally intended for housing but then it was decided to utilise the wonderful views and unpolluted air to turn it into a luxury housing complex. Later it was converted into a municipal park for the people of Barcelona. The park is dominated by the terrace which is surrounded by an undulating sea serpent covered in multi coloured mosaic work this forms the backrest of a low bench to sit and admire the fine views of the city. As you enter the park you are met by the sight of a large, mosaic dragon fountain also covered in multi coloured mosaic. The material used by Gaudi was not the traditional square or oblong tesserae but broken pieces of wall tile that acquired abstract forms when roughly broken. His roofs were also constructed of broken tiles that acquire similar abstract form when broken; these are pieced together like a gigantic jigsaw.

Modern mosaic tiles

Nowadays mosaic tiles are mostly used in ways to satisfy the creative aspect of our lives, they can be used to decorate the frame of a mosaic mirror, as mosaic table tops or to cover flowerpots, mosaic work is considered to be a hobby craft and many evening classes and day classes are held to teach aspects of the craft.