Illustrated

Mosaic glossary

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adhesive ex weldbond

adhesive - used to bond tesserae to a base ex thinset weldbond silicone

acrylic additive

acrylic additive - can be used with thinset instead of water to increase adhesion amp flexibility

andamento - mosaic detail

andamento - movement or flow of tesserae often accentuated by the interstices

annealing - slow glass cooling process starting at around 500degC in a special oven

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back buttering

back buttering - spreading adhesive on the back of the tile immediately before applying it to a base

base - (substrate) the surface that the tesserae are adhered to ex wood metal glass

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glass blower making cartellina

cartellina (pl cartelline) - a thin layer of blown glass (usually as thin as 02 to 1 millimetre but occasionally as thick as 10 millimetres) covering the metal leaf in gold and silver tesserae The cartellina is applied by firing and protects the metal leaf from oxidation If the cartellina comes loose a common phenomenon in ancient mosaics it leads to the loss of the metal leaf and the tessera is discoloured

cartoon for mosaic reproduction

cartoon - a full size drawing of the mosaic which can include color and andemento When creating a reproduction each tesserae is drawn in after taking an exact tracing from the original

concrete board

concrete board - A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material Recommended for wet or exterior applications

crazing detail

crazing - the cracking which can occur in glazed tiles or china due to tensile stresses

cutting tesserae

cutting - the method used to break up materials into various sizes of tesserae The hammer and hardie have been used since ancient times and are still one of the preferred methods for smalti amp stone The smalti or stone is placed on the blade of the chisel at right angles and by delivering a sharp blow with the hammer a clean-cut is made To facilitate cutting glass the surface may be scored beforehand with a diamond tool With smalti since the cut edge reflects more of its brilliance it is usually placed facing outwards in the mosaic (except in the case of metal-leaf tesserae) Modern tools for cutting include tile nippers tile cutters wet saws amp glass cutters

direct method

direct method - the design is sketched onto a base and the tesserae are adhered directly onto it When complete a layer of grout can be spread over the tiles then wiped off filling any spaces between the tiles The only drawback to this method is that repositioning tiles is difficult after the adhesive has set (usually involves a chisel)

double reverse method - mosaic lime bed detail

double reverse method - the ravenna method reverse cartoon tracing is transferred onto a lime bed and tesserae are placed directly into the lime When mosaic is complete cheesecloth is glued to the mosaic with a water-soluable glue traditionally rabbit skin glue When dry the mosaic is lifted out of the lime the back is cleaned and then adhered to a final substrate This method allows a great amount of flexibility changes are easily made

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epoxy

epoxy - a strong two part adhesive consisting of a resin amp hardener great for heavier pieces

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filati

filati - (thread) rods of smalti that are melted and drawn out extremely thin then clipped or cut into tiny pieces Used in micro mosaics

frost proof tile - tile manufactured for use where freezing and thawing conditions occur ex unglazed or porcelain tile

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glass cutter

glass cutter - simple inexpensive tool that consists of a small hard metal wheel set into a brass bearing with a handle It can cut straight and curved lines

glass grinder

glass grinder - used to grind the sharp edges of glass

gold leaf

gold leaf - a thin sheet obtained by beating gold (20 grams yields around 1 cubic millimetre or 6 square metres)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina) In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal the thickness of the leaf the colour if any of the cartellina and of the support

grout

grout - a type of chemically setting cement that fills the interstices between the tesserae Grout produces hard dense joints that are resistant to shrinking cracking and wear

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back buttering

back buttering - spreading adhesive on the back of the tile immediately before applying it to a base

base - (substrate) the surface that the tesserae are adhered to ex wood metal glass

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glass blower making cartellina

cartellina (pl cartelline) - a thin layer of blown glass (usually as thin as 02 to 1 millimetre but occasionally as thick as 10 millimetres) covering the metal leaf in gold and silver tesserae The cartellina is applied by firing and protects the metal leaf from oxidation If the cartellina comes loose a common phenomenon in ancient mosaics it leads to the loss of the metal leaf and the tessera is discoloured

cartoon for mosaic reproduction

cartoon - a full size drawing of the mosaic which can include color and andemento When creating a reproduction each tesserae is drawn in after taking an exact tracing from the original

concrete board

concrete board - A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material Recommended for wet or exterior applications

crazing detail

crazing - the cracking which can occur in glazed tiles or china due to tensile stresses

cutting tesserae

cutting - the method used to break up materials into various sizes of tesserae The hammer and hardie have been used since ancient times and are still one of the preferred methods for smalti amp stone The smalti or stone is placed on the blade of the chisel at right angles and by delivering a sharp blow with the hammer a clean-cut is made To facilitate cutting glass the surface may be scored beforehand with a diamond tool With smalti since the cut edge reflects more of its brilliance it is usually placed facing outwards in the mosaic (except in the case of metal-leaf tesserae) Modern tools for cutting include tile nippers tile cutters wet saws amp glass cutters

direct method

direct method - the design is sketched onto a base and the tesserae are adhered directly onto it When complete a layer of grout can be spread over the tiles then wiped off filling any spaces between the tiles The only drawback to this method is that repositioning tiles is difficult after the adhesive has set (usually involves a chisel)

double reverse method - mosaic lime bed detail

double reverse method - the ravenna method reverse cartoon tracing is transferred onto a lime bed and tesserae are placed directly into the lime When mosaic is complete cheesecloth is glued to the mosaic with a water-soluable glue traditionally rabbit skin glue When dry the mosaic is lifted out of the lime the back is cleaned and then adhered to a final substrate This method allows a great amount of flexibility changes are easily made

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epoxy

epoxy - a strong two part adhesive consisting of a resin amp hardener great for heavier pieces

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filati

filati - (thread) rods of smalti that are melted and drawn out extremely thin then clipped or cut into tiny pieces Used in micro mosaics

frost proof tile - tile manufactured for use where freezing and thawing conditions occur ex unglazed or porcelain tile

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glass cutter

glass cutter - simple inexpensive tool that consists of a small hard metal wheel set into a brass bearing with a handle It can cut straight and curved lines

glass grinder

glass grinder - used to grind the sharp edges of glass

gold leaf

gold leaf - a thin sheet obtained by beating gold (20 grams yields around 1 cubic millimetre or 6 square metres)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina) In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal the thickness of the leaf the colour if any of the cartellina and of the support

grout

grout - a type of chemically setting cement that fills the interstices between the tesserae Grout produces hard dense joints that are resistant to shrinking cracking and wear

concrete board

concrete board - A panel made out of concrete and fiberglass usually used as a tile backing material Recommended for wet or exterior applications

crazing detail

crazing - the cracking which can occur in glazed tiles or china due to tensile stresses

cutting tesserae

cutting - the method used to break up materials into various sizes of tesserae The hammer and hardie have been used since ancient times and are still one of the preferred methods for smalti amp stone The smalti or stone is placed on the blade of the chisel at right angles and by delivering a sharp blow with the hammer a clean-cut is made To facilitate cutting glass the surface may be scored beforehand with a diamond tool With smalti since the cut edge reflects more of its brilliance it is usually placed facing outwards in the mosaic (except in the case of metal-leaf tesserae) Modern tools for cutting include tile nippers tile cutters wet saws amp glass cutters

direct method

direct method - the design is sketched onto a base and the tesserae are adhered directly onto it When complete a layer of grout can be spread over the tiles then wiped off filling any spaces between the tiles The only drawback to this method is that repositioning tiles is difficult after the adhesive has set (usually involves a chisel)

double reverse method - mosaic lime bed detail

double reverse method - the ravenna method reverse cartoon tracing is transferred onto a lime bed and tesserae are placed directly into the lime When mosaic is complete cheesecloth is glued to the mosaic with a water-soluable glue traditionally rabbit skin glue When dry the mosaic is lifted out of the lime the back is cleaned and then adhered to a final substrate This method allows a great amount of flexibility changes are easily made

bull e bull

epoxy

epoxy - a strong two part adhesive consisting of a resin amp hardener great for heavier pieces

bull f bull

filati

filati - (thread) rods of smalti that are melted and drawn out extremely thin then clipped or cut into tiny pieces Used in micro mosaics

frost proof tile - tile manufactured for use where freezing and thawing conditions occur ex unglazed or porcelain tile

bull g bull

glass cutter

glass cutter - simple inexpensive tool that consists of a small hard metal wheel set into a brass bearing with a handle It can cut straight and curved lines

glass grinder

glass grinder - used to grind the sharp edges of glass

gold leaf

gold leaf - a thin sheet obtained by beating gold (20 grams yields around 1 cubic millimetre or 6 square metres)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina) In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal the thickness of the leaf the colour if any of the cartellina and of the support

grout

grout - a type of chemically setting cement that fills the interstices between the tesserae Grout produces hard dense joints that are resistant to shrinking cracking and wear

direct method

direct method - the design is sketched onto a base and the tesserae are adhered directly onto it When complete a layer of grout can be spread over the tiles then wiped off filling any spaces between the tiles The only drawback to this method is that repositioning tiles is difficult after the adhesive has set (usually involves a chisel)

double reverse method - mosaic lime bed detail

double reverse method - the ravenna method reverse cartoon tracing is transferred onto a lime bed and tesserae are placed directly into the lime When mosaic is complete cheesecloth is glued to the mosaic with a water-soluable glue traditionally rabbit skin glue When dry the mosaic is lifted out of the lime the back is cleaned and then adhered to a final substrate This method allows a great amount of flexibility changes are easily made

bull e bull

epoxy

epoxy - a strong two part adhesive consisting of a resin amp hardener great for heavier pieces

bull f bull

filati

filati - (thread) rods of smalti that are melted and drawn out extremely thin then clipped or cut into tiny pieces Used in micro mosaics

frost proof tile - tile manufactured for use where freezing and thawing conditions occur ex unglazed or porcelain tile

bull g bull

glass cutter

glass cutter - simple inexpensive tool that consists of a small hard metal wheel set into a brass bearing with a handle It can cut straight and curved lines

glass grinder

glass grinder - used to grind the sharp edges of glass

gold leaf

gold leaf - a thin sheet obtained by beating gold (20 grams yields around 1 cubic millimetre or 6 square metres)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina) In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal the thickness of the leaf the colour if any of the cartellina and of the support

grout

grout - a type of chemically setting cement that fills the interstices between the tesserae Grout produces hard dense joints that are resistant to shrinking cracking and wear

bull f bull

filati

filati - (thread) rods of smalti that are melted and drawn out extremely thin then clipped or cut into tiny pieces Used in micro mosaics

frost proof tile - tile manufactured for use where freezing and thawing conditions occur ex unglazed or porcelain tile

bull g bull

glass cutter

glass cutter - simple inexpensive tool that consists of a small hard metal wheel set into a brass bearing with a handle It can cut straight and curved lines

glass grinder

glass grinder - used to grind the sharp edges of glass

gold leaf

gold leaf - a thin sheet obtained by beating gold (20 grams yields around 1 cubic millimetre or 6 square metres)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina) In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal the thickness of the leaf the colour if any of the cartellina and of the support

grout

grout - a type of chemically setting cement that fills the interstices between the tesserae Grout produces hard dense joints that are resistant to shrinking cracking and wear

gold leaf

gold leaf - a thin sheet obtained by beating gold (20 grams yields around 1 cubic millimetre or 6 square metres)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold)

gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) - 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick The 24k gold metal leaf is then sandwiched between the support and a thin protective glass layer (the cartellina) In tesserae the colour shade is determined by the purity of the metal the thickness of the leaf the colour if any of the cartellina and of the support

grout

grout - a type of chemically setting cement that fills the interstices between the tesserae Grout produces hard dense joints that are resistant to shrinking cracking and wear

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hammer

hammer - italian martellina - mosaic tool used with a hardie to cut tesserae since ancient times

hardie

hardie - used with a hammer the hardie has a chiseled edge and is traditionally mounted in a log

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tesserae face down image after flipping

indirect method - adhere tesserae face down on a temporary surface (craft paper) with a temporary glue When complete apply mortar to the mosaic (back buttering) then flip it onto the final surface also prepared with mortar Press the mosaic firmly into the adhesive to get a firm bond level and when set remove paper with water Corrections are easier to make using this method but there are a few drawbacks the tiles may shift in the process and you must be able to envision the mirror image of the design You work looking at the back of the tiles (which are not always the same as the front) therefore you dont really see the upside of the mosaic until you flip it Very difficult especially for figures as in the example above of Lilian Brocas Queen Esther copyright copy 2006 Lilian Broca

interstice - no grout - marble mosaic detail

interstice - space separating the tesserae which can play an integral part in the final design of the mosaic see joint

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joint - grouted - stained glass mosaic detail

joint - space between tesserae generally filled with mortar plaster or grout The joint unifies the mosaic and if grouted the color choice becomes a strong design element see interstice

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keying

keying - scoring or roughing up the substrate surface to better accept the adhesive

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lime putty

lime putty - hydrated lime - (air-setting not hydraulic) must be kept moist by spraying the surface with water and covering with plastic when not working Can stay soft and workable for months Used in double reverse method

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mastic

mastic - premixed ceramic tile adhesive Not recommended for exterior applications

medium density fibreboard

medium density fibreboard - MDF is a type of hardboard which is made from wood fibres glued under heat and pressure Suitable for indoor applications where moisture is not a factor seal both faces and edges

micromosaic

micromosaic - mosaic made of tiny tesserae (at times less than one millimetre long) obtained from thin rods of uniformly cut polychrome glass paste or filati

millefiori

millefiori - italian mille (thousand) fiori (flower) - decorative glass made by cutting and arranging cross sections of fused glass rods of various colors and thicknesses

mortar

mortar - a type of cement made from a mixture of cement and fine sand see thinset

morton portable glass shop

morton portable glass shop - makes repetitive cuts fast and accurate Cuts triangles rectangles diamonds (any geometric shape) easily Just measure one time then cut two or a hundred pieces

mosaic - reproduction

mosaic - the decoration of a surface with small juxtaposed fragments (tesserae) of glass enamel stone or ceramic arranged according to a design traced on a specially prepared base

interstice - no grout - marble mosaic detail

interstice - space separating the tesserae which can play an integral part in the final design of the mosaic see joint

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joint - grouted - stained glass mosaic detail

joint - space between tesserae generally filled with mortar plaster or grout The joint unifies the mosaic and if grouted the color choice becomes a strong design element see interstice

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keying

keying - scoring or roughing up the substrate surface to better accept the adhesive

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lime putty

lime putty - hydrated lime - (air-setting not hydraulic) must be kept moist by spraying the surface with water and covering with plastic when not working Can stay soft and workable for months Used in double reverse method

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mastic

mastic - premixed ceramic tile adhesive Not recommended for exterior applications

medium density fibreboard

medium density fibreboard - MDF is a type of hardboard which is made from wood fibres glued under heat and pressure Suitable for indoor applications where moisture is not a factor seal both faces and edges

micromosaic

micromosaic - mosaic made of tiny tesserae (at times less than one millimetre long) obtained from thin rods of uniformly cut polychrome glass paste or filati

millefiori

millefiori - italian mille (thousand) fiori (flower) - decorative glass made by cutting and arranging cross sections of fused glass rods of various colors and thicknesses

mortar

mortar - a type of cement made from a mixture of cement and fine sand see thinset

morton portable glass shop

morton portable glass shop - makes repetitive cuts fast and accurate Cuts triangles rectangles diamonds (any geometric shape) easily Just measure one time then cut two or a hundred pieces

mosaic - reproduction

mosaic - the decoration of a surface with small juxtaposed fragments (tesserae) of glass enamel stone or ceramic arranged according to a design traced on a specially prepared base

lime putty - hydrated lime - (air-setting not hydraulic) must be kept moist by spraying the surface with water and covering with plastic when not working Can stay soft and workable for months Used in double reverse method

bull m bull

mastic

mastic - premixed ceramic tile adhesive Not recommended for exterior applications

medium density fibreboard

medium density fibreboard - MDF is a type of hardboard which is made from wood fibres glued under heat and pressure Suitable for indoor applications where moisture is not a factor seal both faces and edges

micromosaic

micromosaic - mosaic made of tiny tesserae (at times less than one millimetre long) obtained from thin rods of uniformly cut polychrome glass paste or filati

millefiori

millefiori - italian mille (thousand) fiori (flower) - decorative glass made by cutting and arranging cross sections of fused glass rods of various colors and thicknesses

mortar

mortar - a type of cement made from a mixture of cement and fine sand see thinset

morton portable glass shop

morton portable glass shop - makes repetitive cuts fast and accurate Cuts triangles rectangles diamonds (any geometric shape) easily Just measure one time then cut two or a hundred pieces

mosaic - reproduction

mosaic - the decoration of a surface with small juxtaposed fragments (tesserae) of glass enamel stone or ceramic arranged according to a design traced on a specially prepared base

millefiori

millefiori - italian mille (thousand) fiori (flower) - decorative glass made by cutting and arranging cross sections of fused glass rods of various colors and thicknesses

mortar

mortar - a type of cement made from a mixture of cement and fine sand see thinset

morton portable glass shop

morton portable glass shop - makes repetitive cuts fast and accurate Cuts triangles rectangles diamonds (any geometric shape) easily Just measure one time then cut two or a hundred pieces

mosaic - reproduction

mosaic - the decoration of a surface with small juxtaposed fragments (tesserae) of glass enamel stone or ceramic arranged according to a design traced on a specially prepared base

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opus - a creative piece of work in any field of the arts In mosaic art opus refers to the technique of positioning the tesserae

opus certum

opus certum - mosaic where all tesserae are cut and laid uniformly

opus circumactum - mosaic detail

opus circumactum - a technique for laying tesserae in fan-like patterns usually used as a background Creates movement

opus classicum - mosaic detail - cave canem

opus classicum - a combination of opus tessellatum (background) and opus vermiculatum surrounding the main object This technique creates a very strong sharp and clear image ex Cave Canem Pompeii National Museum Naples

opus incertum - mosaic detail

opus incertum - mosaic using small smoothed stone tesserae cut irregularly and positioned randomly

hunting a lion - opus lapilla - mosaic detail

opus lapilli - mosaic consisting of small pebbles of many natural colors one of the first types of paving ex Hunting a lion ndash pebble floor 4th century BC Pella (Macedonia) Pella Museum

opus musivum -cupid picking grapes - mosaic detail

opus musivum - work of the muses originally referred to glass paste mosaic work on walls or vaults Today it is recognized when the opus vermiculatum is extended out so that the entire area is filled becoming opus musivum This gives the piece a dynamic sense of movement ex cupid picking grapes - 4th C AD mosaic fragment Carthage Tunisia

opus palladanium -mosaic detail opus palladanium - a random placement of irregularly cut mosaic tesserae referred to as crazy paving It is important to keep the interstices consistant this method can create a dynamic background quickly and easily A modern technique

opus regulatum - mosaic detail

opus regulatum - mosaic laid in a regular grid-like pattern as you would get a sheet of mosaic tiles from the factory Used to fill in large backgrounds very static

opus reticulatum - mosaic detail

opus reticulatum - mosaic similiar to opus tesselatum but with the tesserae laid out according to oblique lines

opus scutulata pavimenta - mosaic detail

opus scutulata pavimenta - similar to opus signinum made of clay powder and lime but with the random insertion of sections of marble or stone of various types size shapes and colors These pieces are then tamped down amp leveled Numerous in Pompei Herculaneum amp Rome

opus sectile - mosaic detail - tiger assaulting a calf

opus sectile - the tesserae are of various sizes but cut very carefully to form exact shapes the shapes then fit together like a puzzle Similiar to marble marquetry ex tiger assaulting a calf - coloured marbles - second quarter of 4th century AD Rome Esquiline - Basilica Iunii Bassi

opus signinum - mosaic detail

opus signinum - an ancient form of paving based on layers of mortar made from clay powder and lime (cocciopesto) Black or white cubic tesserae were inserted in the surface forming simple geometrical patterns

opus tesselatum - mosaic detail - baths of Herculanum

opus tesselatum - latin set with small cubes - small tesserae cubes laid in a rectilinear pattern This technique was used for geometric designs borders and backgrounds Often in brick pattern ex baths of Herculanum - mosaic detail

opus vemiculatum - mosaic detail - tunisia

opus vermiculatum - latin worm-like- this method is used to highlight the contours of the main images The tesserae create a halo effect which also emphasizes movement

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pique assiette

pique assiette - ( a french term -stolen from plate) pieces of broken pottery china glass buttons figurines and jewelry are cemented onto a base to create a new surface Almost any form can be used as a base and any combination of pieces can be applied restricted only by the individual creators imagination

pistol grip glass cutter

pistol grip glass cutter - glass cutter with a comfortable grip

pizza - a thin smalti slab or disc which is made by pressing the fused glass on a flat surface or by drawing it through two cylinders After annealing the slab is cut with diamond-pointed instruments or a hammer and hardie

porcelain tile - a tile generally made by the dust-pressed method of a composition that produces a dense impervious fine-grained tile Perfect for exterior applications

pot life - the period of time during which a material maintains its workable properties after it has been mixed

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rabbit skin glue

rabbit skin glue - This glue comes in pellets because it is very strong and is water-soluable The glue is boiled and has a nasty smell but is still used in Ravenna for the double reverse method

rigid wrap

rigid wrap - a plaster impregnated gauze that can be used to add stability to objects otherwise not solid enough to mosaic It is also used for casting objects

rotti

rotti - irregular sized smalti pieces and bull nosed edge cuts from the smalti pizza

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shelf life - maximum interval during which a material may be stored and remain in a usable condition

opus incertum - mosaic detail

opus incertum - mosaic using small smoothed stone tesserae cut irregularly and positioned randomly

hunting a lion - opus lapilla - mosaic detail

opus lapilli - mosaic consisting of small pebbles of many natural colors one of the first types of paving ex Hunting a lion ndash pebble floor 4th century BC Pella (Macedonia) Pella Museum

opus musivum -cupid picking grapes - mosaic detail

opus musivum - work of the muses originally referred to glass paste mosaic work on walls or vaults Today it is recognized when the opus vermiculatum is extended out so that the entire area is filled becoming opus musivum This gives the piece a dynamic sense of movement ex cupid picking grapes - 4th C AD mosaic fragment Carthage Tunisia

opus palladanium -mosaic detail opus palladanium - a random placement of irregularly cut mosaic tesserae referred to as crazy paving It is important to keep the interstices consistant this method can create a dynamic background quickly and easily A modern technique

opus regulatum - mosaic detail

opus regulatum - mosaic laid in a regular grid-like pattern as you would get a sheet of mosaic tiles from the factory Used to fill in large backgrounds very static

opus reticulatum - mosaic detail

opus reticulatum - mosaic similiar to opus tesselatum but with the tesserae laid out according to oblique lines

opus scutulata pavimenta - mosaic detail

opus scutulata pavimenta - similar to opus signinum made of clay powder and lime but with the random insertion of sections of marble or stone of various types size shapes and colors These pieces are then tamped down amp leveled Numerous in Pompei Herculaneum amp Rome

opus sectile - mosaic detail - tiger assaulting a calf

opus sectile - the tesserae are of various sizes but cut very carefully to form exact shapes the shapes then fit together like a puzzle Similiar to marble marquetry ex tiger assaulting a calf - coloured marbles - second quarter of 4th century AD Rome Esquiline - Basilica Iunii Bassi

opus signinum - mosaic detail

opus signinum - an ancient form of paving based on layers of mortar made from clay powder and lime (cocciopesto) Black or white cubic tesserae were inserted in the surface forming simple geometrical patterns

opus tesselatum - mosaic detail - baths of Herculanum

opus tesselatum - latin set with small cubes - small tesserae cubes laid in a rectilinear pattern This technique was used for geometric designs borders and backgrounds Often in brick pattern ex baths of Herculanum - mosaic detail

opus vemiculatum - mosaic detail - tunisia

opus vermiculatum - latin worm-like- this method is used to highlight the contours of the main images The tesserae create a halo effect which also emphasizes movement

bull p bull

pique assiette

pique assiette - ( a french term -stolen from plate) pieces of broken pottery china glass buttons figurines and jewelry are cemented onto a base to create a new surface Almost any form can be used as a base and any combination of pieces can be applied restricted only by the individual creators imagination

pistol grip glass cutter

pistol grip glass cutter - glass cutter with a comfortable grip

pizza - a thin smalti slab or disc which is made by pressing the fused glass on a flat surface or by drawing it through two cylinders After annealing the slab is cut with diamond-pointed instruments or a hammer and hardie

porcelain tile - a tile generally made by the dust-pressed method of a composition that produces a dense impervious fine-grained tile Perfect for exterior applications

pot life - the period of time during which a material maintains its workable properties after it has been mixed

bull r

rabbit skin glue

rabbit skin glue - This glue comes in pellets because it is very strong and is water-soluable The glue is boiled and has a nasty smell but is still used in Ravenna for the double reverse method

rigid wrap

rigid wrap - a plaster impregnated gauze that can be used to add stability to objects otherwise not solid enough to mosaic It is also used for casting objects

rotti

rotti - irregular sized smalti pieces and bull nosed edge cuts from the smalti pizza

bull s

shelf life - maximum interval during which a material may be stored and remain in a usable condition

opus palladanium -mosaic detail opus palladanium - a random placement of irregularly cut mosaic tesserae referred to as crazy paving It is important to keep the interstices consistant this method can create a dynamic background quickly and easily A modern technique

opus regulatum - mosaic detail

opus regulatum - mosaic laid in a regular grid-like pattern as you would get a sheet of mosaic tiles from the factory Used to fill in large backgrounds very static

opus reticulatum - mosaic detail

opus reticulatum - mosaic similiar to opus tesselatum but with the tesserae laid out according to oblique lines

opus scutulata pavimenta - mosaic detail

opus scutulata pavimenta - similar to opus signinum made of clay powder and lime but with the random insertion of sections of marble or stone of various types size shapes and colors These pieces are then tamped down amp leveled Numerous in Pompei Herculaneum amp Rome

opus sectile - mosaic detail - tiger assaulting a calf

opus sectile - the tesserae are of various sizes but cut very carefully to form exact shapes the shapes then fit together like a puzzle Similiar to marble marquetry ex tiger assaulting a calf - coloured marbles - second quarter of 4th century AD Rome Esquiline - Basilica Iunii Bassi

opus signinum - mosaic detail

opus signinum - an ancient form of paving based on layers of mortar made from clay powder and lime (cocciopesto) Black or white cubic tesserae were inserted in the surface forming simple geometrical patterns

opus tesselatum - mosaic detail - baths of Herculanum

opus tesselatum - latin set with small cubes - small tesserae cubes laid in a rectilinear pattern This technique was used for geometric designs borders and backgrounds Often in brick pattern ex baths of Herculanum - mosaic detail

opus vemiculatum - mosaic detail - tunisia

opus vermiculatum - latin worm-like- this method is used to highlight the contours of the main images The tesserae create a halo effect which also emphasizes movement

bull p bull

pique assiette

pique assiette - ( a french term -stolen from plate) pieces of broken pottery china glass buttons figurines and jewelry are cemented onto a base to create a new surface Almost any form can be used as a base and any combination of pieces can be applied restricted only by the individual creators imagination

pistol grip glass cutter

pistol grip glass cutter - glass cutter with a comfortable grip

pizza - a thin smalti slab or disc which is made by pressing the fused glass on a flat surface or by drawing it through two cylinders After annealing the slab is cut with diamond-pointed instruments or a hammer and hardie

porcelain tile - a tile generally made by the dust-pressed method of a composition that produces a dense impervious fine-grained tile Perfect for exterior applications

pot life - the period of time during which a material maintains its workable properties after it has been mixed

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rabbit skin glue

rabbit skin glue - This glue comes in pellets because it is very strong and is water-soluable The glue is boiled and has a nasty smell but is still used in Ravenna for the double reverse method

rigid wrap

rigid wrap - a plaster impregnated gauze that can be used to add stability to objects otherwise not solid enough to mosaic It is also used for casting objects

rotti

rotti - irregular sized smalti pieces and bull nosed edge cuts from the smalti pizza

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shelf life - maximum interval during which a material may be stored and remain in a usable condition

opus sectile - mosaic detail - tiger assaulting a calf

opus sectile - the tesserae are of various sizes but cut very carefully to form exact shapes the shapes then fit together like a puzzle Similiar to marble marquetry ex tiger assaulting a calf - coloured marbles - second quarter of 4th century AD Rome Esquiline - Basilica Iunii Bassi

opus signinum - mosaic detail

opus signinum - an ancient form of paving based on layers of mortar made from clay powder and lime (cocciopesto) Black or white cubic tesserae were inserted in the surface forming simple geometrical patterns

opus tesselatum - mosaic detail - baths of Herculanum

opus tesselatum - latin set with small cubes - small tesserae cubes laid in a rectilinear pattern This technique was used for geometric designs borders and backgrounds Often in brick pattern ex baths of Herculanum - mosaic detail

opus vemiculatum - mosaic detail - tunisia

opus vermiculatum - latin worm-like- this method is used to highlight the contours of the main images The tesserae create a halo effect which also emphasizes movement

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pique assiette

pique assiette - ( a french term -stolen from plate) pieces of broken pottery china glass buttons figurines and jewelry are cemented onto a base to create a new surface Almost any form can be used as a base and any combination of pieces can be applied restricted only by the individual creators imagination

pistol grip glass cutter

pistol grip glass cutter - glass cutter with a comfortable grip

pizza - a thin smalti slab or disc which is made by pressing the fused glass on a flat surface or by drawing it through two cylinders After annealing the slab is cut with diamond-pointed instruments or a hammer and hardie

porcelain tile - a tile generally made by the dust-pressed method of a composition that produces a dense impervious fine-grained tile Perfect for exterior applications

pot life - the period of time during which a material maintains its workable properties after it has been mixed

bull r

rabbit skin glue

rabbit skin glue - This glue comes in pellets because it is very strong and is water-soluable The glue is boiled and has a nasty smell but is still used in Ravenna for the double reverse method

rigid wrap

rigid wrap - a plaster impregnated gauze that can be used to add stability to objects otherwise not solid enough to mosaic It is also used for casting objects

rotti

rotti - irregular sized smalti pieces and bull nosed edge cuts from the smalti pizza

bull s

shelf life - maximum interval during which a material may be stored and remain in a usable condition

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pique assiette

pique assiette - ( a french term -stolen from plate) pieces of broken pottery china glass buttons figurines and jewelry are cemented onto a base to create a new surface Almost any form can be used as a base and any combination of pieces can be applied restricted only by the individual creators imagination

pistol grip glass cutter

pistol grip glass cutter - glass cutter with a comfortable grip

pizza - a thin smalti slab or disc which is made by pressing the fused glass on a flat surface or by drawing it through two cylinders After annealing the slab is cut with diamond-pointed instruments or a hammer and hardie

porcelain tile - a tile generally made by the dust-pressed method of a composition that produces a dense impervious fine-grained tile Perfect for exterior applications

pot life - the period of time during which a material maintains its workable properties after it has been mixed

bull r

rabbit skin glue

rabbit skin glue - This glue comes in pellets because it is very strong and is water-soluable The glue is boiled and has a nasty smell but is still used in Ravenna for the double reverse method

rigid wrap

rigid wrap - a plaster impregnated gauze that can be used to add stability to objects otherwise not solid enough to mosaic It is also used for casting objects

rotti

rotti - irregular sized smalti pieces and bull nosed edge cuts from the smalti pizza

bull s

shelf life - maximum interval during which a material may be stored and remain in a usable condition

bull r

rabbit skin glue

rabbit skin glue - This glue comes in pellets because it is very strong and is water-soluable The glue is boiled and has a nasty smell but is still used in Ravenna for the double reverse method

rigid wrap

rigid wrap - a plaster impregnated gauze that can be used to add stability to objects otherwise not solid enough to mosaic It is also used for casting objects

rotti

rotti - irregular sized smalti pieces and bull nosed edge cuts from the smalti pizza

bull s

shelf life - maximum interval during which a material may be stored and remain in a usable condition

silicone sealant

silicone sealant - an adhesive that is waterproof and remains flexible will adhere two non porous materials together such as glass on glass applications

smalti slabs or pizzas

slab - a thin smalti slab or disc (pizza) which is made by pressing the fused glass on a flat surface or by drawing it through two cylinders After annealing the slab is cut with diamond-pointed instruments or a hammer and hardie

slake - a chemical reaction that takes place after the water or admix is mixed to the thinset or grout It is important to let this reaction take place by not disturbing the mix for approx 10 minutes after initially mixing

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smalti

smalto (pl smalti) - smalti is characterized by its dazzling range of brilliant opaque colors Smalti is prepared by adding crystalline material (corpo) and coloured material (anima) to the colourless or coloured fused glass Smalti is literally available in thousands of colors is a very stable glass easy to cut and very durable

substrate - (base) the surface that the tesserae are adhered to ex wood metal glass

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tesserae - small usually square pieces of glass or other material used to make a mosaic Their size generally ranges from a few millimetres to two centimetres long and five to ten millimetres thick The term derives from the Greek word meaning four-sided

thinset

thinset - a mortar based setting adhesive that is mixed with either water or an acrylic additive applied approximately 18 thick Great for exterior applications or areas exposed to water

tile cutter

tile cutter - a device used to break tiles using a method of scoring and snapping

tile nippers

tile nippers - special pliers that are used to nip or cut tesserae

two wheeled mosaic cutter

two wheeled mosaic cutter - a hand tool for cutting mosaic tesserae great for glass

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vitreous tile

vitreous tile - square glass mosaic tiles most commonly 34 x 34 made in molds from glass paste They have a smooth top but the bottom is keyed with ridges for better adhesion

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wedi board

wedi board - a strong light weight cement board ideal for larger mosaics The core is made from Styrofoam brand polystyrene foam and is reinforced with glass fiber fabric before being coated with polymer-modified cement mortar

wet saw

wet saw - a saw with a circular diamond blade that cuts through dense materials incuding marbles and granites

two wheeled mosaic cutter

two wheeled mosaic cutter - a hand tool for cutting mosaic tesserae great for glass

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vitreous tile

vitreous tile - square glass mosaic tiles most commonly 34 x 34 made in molds from glass paste They have a smooth top but the bottom is keyed with ridges for better adhesion

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wedi board

wedi board - a strong light weight cement board ideal for larger mosaics The core is made from Styrofoam brand polystyrene foam and is reinforced with glass fiber fabric before being coated with polymer-modified cement mortar

wet saw

wet saw - a saw with a circular diamond blade that cuts through dense materials incuding marbles and granites