What is handmade mosaic?

Mosaic art is a very old tecnique, and thanks to its special versatility and resistance (the Romans used it for floors and walls) very suited to the both internal and external decoration.
Defined from antiquity as “painting for eternity” it is indeed remarkable for its endurance, to appreciate this one only has to look at the examples handed down intact in all their glory.

In a world dominated by mass production which threatens to standardise our homes and the space around us, tradional hand craft aims to preserve an antique art based on the quality and uniqueness of the product guaranteeing at the same time reliability and durability of the materials used.

Today, thanks to the developement of new materials, mosaics can posses excellent resistance and adaptability to any type of stuation and necessity:

• adverse atmospheric conditions ( resistance to freezing, they can be waterproofed)
• covering of curved surfaces (the mosaic surface, that seems rigid, can be flexed to cover curved surfaces)
• mosaic sections can be mounted, when required, as tiles by a normal builder.
• new binding materials utilized, allow a reduction of the work time compared to the past mantaining a guaranteed reliability over time.

The modern artisan must have the skills to synthasise traditional manual ability, interpreting the customer's desires, using appropriate materials technology and modern electronic immage elaboration.

THE PRODUCTION PROCESS

The production of a mosaic is divided in many phases, including the cutting of the material , using specific instruments such as special hammers and cutters, rigorously by hand, element by element, following the ancient technique roman-bizantine.
This technique guarantees that each work is a unique production of its type.
A rough surface is created , “mossa”, that reflects light in such a way as to give a sense of movement to the mosaic, unlike the industrial product characterised by a flat surface with elements uniform and lifeless.

The elements are laid on a bed of gypsum which is maintaned constantly humid thus remaining soft and allowing the mosaic artist to adjust and perfect the work as it comes to life. There are precise rules regarding the "construction". The elements are lain in lines called "andamenti". Each element of a mosaic has a specific place absolutely not left to chance.
The mosaic is then removed from its gypsum bed to be fixed with special binding agents and prepared for its final destination.

Apart from the traditional byzantine technique, there exist many other production methods, which vary according to the destination of the work (decorative panels, floors, bathrooms) and according to the desired effect (irregulare or smooth surface).

 

MATERIALS

The principal materials used are:
- marble and natural stone, mined in Italy and abroad possessing huge range of colours and patterns;
- smalts, glassious material, obtained from a mixture of metalic oxides and silica. This composition allows for a precise cut, the glass does not shatter as one would normally expect. We also use gold and silver leaf, protected by a glass coating. All these materials are from Venice produced by master glass makers following an antique tradition and working exclusively for the mosaic sector.

It is also possible to use a multitude of materials such as: industrial elements, ceramics, Tiffany glass, perls, cloths, metals, preciouses stones, sea shells, pebbles, recycled materials to give originality and enrich your work!