Mosaic tiles complement backsplashes in kitchens and baths and can be adapted to almost any style. Courtesy Oceanside Glasstile.
The Romans contributed so much to the advancement and wonderment of modern society—Hadrian’s Wall, the water wheel, roads, and more. But one of their greatest contributions won’t be found in the pages of history books, rather on the walls and floors of ancient and modern structures alike. This contribution to design is, of course, the creation of mosaics. Although the first mosaics date back to 3000 B.C., it was the Romans with their opulent villas and temples that popularized the art form, a staple of interior design that is as fresh today as it was thousands of years ago.
“Mosaics speak to our collective history, and yet they are contemporary interpretations of the artist—or client’s—vision,” explains JoAnn Locktov, author of Mosaic Art and Style, Designs for Living Environments. “They [mosaics] are durable, ecological, and offer texture and color in countless ways. They have sustained
cycles of popularity and now are experiencing a major renaissance.”
A mosaic is a picture, pattern, or form field made up of small pieces of tile called tesserae that are composed of materials such as porcelain, marble, stone, or glass. The art form has stood the test of time, both literally and figuratively. Mosaics are incredibly durable, able to withstand the ash of Mt. Vesuvius or the crash of a Le Creuset Dutch oven onto a countertop. (Just look at how well the mosaics in the New York City subway retain their integrity.) Stylistically, mosaics have weathered the trends of interior design as well, morphing from the Roman classical design to complement homes across all eras from the Victorian to Art Nouveau to contemporary. Owner of Charles Tiles, Linda Dehne, suggests that the uses for mosaics are endless—as mosaic emerges again as a viable part of modern interior design, the limitlessness of the medium is coming to light.
“There really is no place you can’t use mosaic, and because of the small size of the tesserae, they’re resistant to movement,” says Nancy Epstein, CEO of Artistic Tile, noting that mosaic can be used on curved as well as straight planes, and also that the small size of the tesserae makes the mosaic less slippery than a larger tile. This explains why mosaics are so popular now in bathrooms, as both floors and on walls. According Dehne, mosaics are popping up in some very unique places like furniture, shower floors, built-in outdoor grills, and step risers. “One client of ours had us install a peacock mosaic design facing their pool on an exterior wall of the home.”
While the process of creating a mosaic has changed little in several thousand years, modern technology allows new materials to be introduced into the artist palette, such as semi-precious stones and metal. The most popular designs are available straight from the manufacturer. Most designs, whether custom or pre-fabricated, are laid out and attached to a mesh backing that even a skilled DIY-er could adhere to a surface. Custom designs typically come in numbered pieces with a map of how to place the design together.
There are many beautiful pre-fabricated mosaic designs available, however, by definition, custom creations are the most unique. Whether working with a company or an artisan, homeowners can create mosaics specific to their interests and needs. According to Dehne, “You can use a computer to digitize and reproduce almost any image you would like in a mosaic design. We have manufacturers that are creating designs that look almost like wallpaper.” Of course, the mosaic’s size, intricacy, and materials will affect not only the price but also the time it takes to see the project to completion.
From floral to nautical, custom mosaic designs offer an infinite range of possibilities. Courtesy Paris Ceramics
A mosaic can be used anywhere from a formal entryway medallion to a decorative kitchen backsplash for a touch of personality or a splash of color. Because they can be used indoors and out, mosaics also appear in pools and on patios. The flexibility of the medium means it can be applied to almost any surface—tabletops, ceilings, counters, and floors. The only limit is set by the imaginations of the homeowner and the artist. “The trend is towards customization of the indoor and outdoor living spaces,” says Locktov. “Homeowners are wising up to the fact that they can team with a mosaic artist and enliven their environment with a unique mosaic application that speaks to theirindividual spirit.”
Maryland-based mosaic artist Judy Stone began her work with a birdbath. It was so popular she began taking commissions for residential work. This artist works with stained glass tesserae to create luminous and functional art in her studio. Stone sees the trend moving toward mosaic backsplashes in the kitchen,multiple uses in the bathroom, and occasionally on floors, although one of her most involved commissions was a fireplace surround that mimicked the fluid movement of flames. Stone’s designs take 3 to 6 months to create, but the allure is long lasting.
“The process of assemblage is so evident in the finished product, and that’s very interesting to people,” says Stone of mosaic’s appeal. “People really feel like they’re making an investment in a piece of art.”
Mosaics aren’t just for villas anymore. Sebastian Bryant, National Showroom Coordinator for the UK-based company Paris Ceramics, explains that mosaics are appropriate for any style of home because of their adaptability. “If someone wants something very modern it might just be sheets of monochromatic stone or a range of colors within a hue so it’s very textural, while someone else might want something very classical like Venus or a landscape,” he says. “It’s amazing the range of projects we’ve done over the years from underwater scenes in pools to a picture of someone’s pet to a portrait of Jerry Garcia.” Bryant notes that Paris Ceramics hand-cuts its tesserae, which helps avoid the “Chiclets look” that can take away from the mosaic’s intensity and beauty.
Whether the mosaics of today will be in existence thousands of years from now remains a mystery, but even the sense of permanence a mosaic evokes can make a living space more intriguing, a classic in its own right. “A mosaic gives people the sense of being rooted,” says Epstein.
Christianna McCausland is a frequent contributor to ChesapeakeHome.
Contacts:
Artistic Tile: artistictile.com or 800-260-8646
Charles Tiles: 410-332-1500
Judy Stone: mosaic.net or 301-537-9115
New Ravenna Mosaics: newravenna.com or 757-442-3379
Oceanside Glasstile: glasstile.com
Paris Ceramics: parisceramics.com or 202-554-3500
