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Mosaic Tiles Guide
:: Mosaic Designs
For centuries, mosaic tile makers experimented to broaden
the range of colours they could achieve, subjecting different colours
of clay and mineral glazes to the alchemy of the kiln. Modern chemistry
and production technologies have added new shades as well as new ways of
achieving gradations of colour within a single tile. The highest of high-tech
methods are applied to imitate the look and touch of ancient handmade
tiles. New raw materials have replaced substances such as lead that were
used in the past but are today considered environmentally sensitive.
Today, mosaics and murals are experiencing
a renewal of popularity as designers rediscover the creative possibilities
of the medium. In interiors, mosaic tiles are applied lavishly to
decorate entire walls and floors, or used sparingly to enrich monochromatic
tiled surfaces with the addition of colour accents and elegant borders.
Mosaic
designs are made by setting small squares or pieces (tesserae) of
tile, stone, glass, or other materials into a background of cement
or grout. Mosaics are small, multicoloured stones cut into various
shapes that, when viewed from a distance, can coalesce into photographic
style portraits or patterns.
Viewed up close, each small tessera is just one square
or spot of colour and texture. Assembled and blended, they can form shapes,
patterns, images, pictures, and words.
The repetitive patterning of the
tiny mosaic tiles / tesserae is hypnotically pleasing to the eye.
The designer
working with mosaics uses tesserae with slight differences and variations
in colour and shape to achieve soft outlines and a uniquely handmade
feel. Arranging mosaic tiles according to subtle gradations of colour
can produce
a full tonal range and the illusion of three dimensions.
Creating
elaborate mosaic designs is a laborious and meticulous art, but the
advent of the computer has made it possible to produce intricate
patterns in a fraction of the time it takes to assemble tesserae
by hand. Of course, mosaics set by machine cannot duplicate the subtle
variations and slight imperfections that make handmade mosaics distinctive
and highly prized. They are best used for repetitive designs, such
as borders and trims, where precision is desirable. Intricate or
simple, geometric or figural, mosaics and murals add colour, texture,
and dimension to your rooms.
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