Italian mosaic: types and overview of collections of famous manufacturers

The time has passed when the use of mosaic in decorating was limited exclusively to decorative functions. In modern practice, it is used to create various elements of interior decoration, decorating columns, bathrooms, pools, kitchen tops and architectural sculptures.

Mosaic is the original art of interior and exterior decoration of objects of architecture with separate fragments of finishing material, which can be of different types, sizes and shapes. Art originated from ancient times and received the name of its varieties, depending on the place of origin of a particular method of application.

Using natural stone as a starting material, craftsmen worked in this technique from the fifth century BC onwards. The advantage of the stone was its strength and ability to remain unchanged externally over the years and even centuries.

At the end of the 16th century AD, power in Florence belonged to the Medici house, under the auspices of which stone-cutting workshops were opened. Masters from Milan were invited to work in them. The Medici were famous for their love of collecting the best pieces of art from the ancient era. It is assumed that the development and use of techniques for decorating surfaces with plates of natural stone was caused by the need to restore some of the exhibits in the collection. In particular, architectural and sculpture compositions from the times of ancient Rome and ancient Greece.

In the process of developing the mosaic trend in art, glass, ceramics, various metals were used as raw materials.smalt, gold. Modern masters create canvases no worse than the masterpieces of past years. However, belonging to the elite types of creativity was lost, because the decoration of the home mosaic panels became available to anyone.

Materials for the manufacture of mosaic plates can be different:

• glass;
• smalt;
• natural and artificial stones;
• ceramics;
• precious and non-precious metals;
• marble.

In ancient times, glass jewelry was in demand among the richest members of society. They decorated houses, palaces, cathedrals, park sculptures, fountains and statues.

For the production of glass mosaic plates used a mixture of sand with impurities and compositions for painting. The mixture melts to obtain a homogeneous mass, which is then molded by the method of injection molding. After molding, the finished plate is fired in special furnaces. As a result, despite the similarity of manufacturing technology, it becomes much stronger than glass.

Smalt is a colored artificial glass, which is formed as a result of mixing fine grains of colored glass with metal oxides and sintering the mixture obtained in a furnace for a day at 800 ° C. In the manufacture of smalt used potassium salts that affect the color of the plates. Due to the heterogeneity of the initial composition, the smalt canvas is brilliant, giving the impression of hand-made each element. Moreover, each plate may have a shade that is different from the next one.

The process of its production is more labor-intensive, therefore the price for it is higher than for glass. It is more resistant to mechanical damage, so it is widely used in places with increased load (stairs, hallways, corridors, living rooms).

To create this kind of use a huge amount of natural material: amethyst, lapis lazuli, onyx, jasper, tuff, serpentine, malachite and others. Each individually has a unique structure and color, therefore, the patterns of stone are rich, structural and unique. The stone can be ground or polished, as well as artificially “aged” - more subdued shade and with rounded edges. Forms of plates can be also different: from the correct geometric to arbitrary, under the order.

This type of decoration is ideal for facing facades, interior premises of restaurants, cafes, bars, shops and offices. Due to the combination of beauty finishes and durability in use, it is widely used in landscape design (arrangement of platforms, paths, curbs, retaining walls, etc.), arrangement of fireplaces, columns, wall decoration, window sills, cornices.

Mosaic images can be made of marble - a mineral that is formed by the crystallization of dolomite, limestone and a small amount of impurities from other rocks. It is impurities that have a direct impact on the color of marble and its properties.

In the manufacture of plates of great importance is not only the composition of marble, but also the way it is processed. Usually the main color appears after the completion of the polishing and polishing stage.Marble is a rather expensive mineral, therefore the presence of marble decor in the interior indicates prosperity, stability and solidity of the owner.

Metal mosaic can be made of non-precious or precious metals. When laying a pattern of non-precious metals, the substrate does not use a clay pad, but thin rubber linings are no thicker than 4 mm. A metal plate is attached to the lining. This method of laying makes the image flexible and suitable for finishing complex surfaces.

Most often, the plates are made of a standard square shape, but it is possible to manufacture any shape: rectangular, diamond-shaped, hexagonal, oval, round. The surface of the plates is glossy, matte, with a pattern. For facing of bathrooms and pools there is an option from stainless steel.

A mosaic of precious metals is not a cheap pleasure. For its production using white and yellow gold, platinum. The plate consists of two layers of special protective glass, between which there is a gold or platinum foil. They are made by hand according to the ancient handicraft technology.

First, thin glass bubbles are blown no thicker than 1 mm, which are then cut into square pieces with sides of 10x10 cm. A sheet of foil is placed on each such piece. It is also made by hand, beating the metal to the desired degree of subtlety. From above the plate is poured with molten glass, sealing the foil inside. In the final, the plate is sent to the furnace for hardening.

The leading manufacturers today are two large factories: Sicis and Bisazza. They produce all kinds of mosaic coatings, but each, of course, has its own specialization.

• Sicis They are famous for their glass products, from which panels are made of various shapes, shades and sizes. Portrait images work out them especially brilliantly. In addition, this factory has produced a collection of watches and jewelry, decorated with mosaics of different materials.

• Bisazza Glass is also used as a base material. In addition to standard surface cladding projects,they offer an exclusive collection of Bisazza Home (furniture and decorative items decorated with mosaic patterns made of precious materials) and the line of production and sale of personalized tiles for the decoration of bathrooms and basins Bisazza Bagno.

And also it is possible to note such manufacturers of quality products Italy, as Trend, Vitrex and Atlas Concorde. Their ceramic tiles will last more than one year.

Italian mosaic helps to give the building, interior or individual piece of furniture a unique charm, beauty. The variety of materials used creates a wide range of options, helping to take into account all the features and wishes of customers.

You can find out about the installation of the mosaic in the following video.