| Both stained glass and mosaic are pretty old art forms, | | | | as today. The more complex creation of sheets of |
| which are equally as popular today as they ever have | | | | colored glass didn't occur till the middle ages, when |
| been. | | | | large funds from the rich European churches funded |
| Mosaics dating back hundreds of years are still | | | | the development of Cathedral Glass and Rose |
| regularly being unearthed today, from Roman and | | | | windows which we can still see today. |
| Byzantine ruins. | | | | Mosaics in principle are quite simple, if time consuming |
| Romans in particular loved mosaics and used them | | | | to make, laying one tile down after another, whilst |
| extensively in their temples, town houses and bath | | | | stained glass windows require both the skills of a |
| houses. Often whole floors would be created showing | | | | master glass maker and a glass window craftsman. |
| ancient Gods or famous individuals such as Virgil the | | | | When exactly these two different crafts were first |
| poet philosopher. It is testament to their skills that these | | | | combined is a matter for debate. But it is likely around |
| mosaics often lasted for many years. | | | | the with the advent of strong clear glues which could |
| Stained glass origins are less clear, but it is known the | | | | bond glass to itself. The result was that mosaics of |
| Egyptians up to one thousand years ago had begun | | | | colored glass could now be created, set onto clear |
| creating small colored glass bead and jewelery. These | | | | glass bases. In effect the simplicity of the mosaic had |
| were only ever worn by the most rich and powerful | | | | combined with the glorious luminous effects of stained |
| people. In fact they were probably seen as magical | | | | glass to create the Stained Glass Mosaic. |
| amulets rather than the jewelery we would see them | | | | |