| Stone mosaics are ancient art forms. They're so tough | | | | placement to be coordinated. |
| they've actually outlasted whole civilizations. They're a | | | | Mosaic art |
| true art form, equally popular with ancient kings and | | | | Mosaics are a highly developed art form. The main |
| modern homeowners. Modern mosaics are made with | | | | exponents of mosaic art for stone flooring in its original |
| hard stone, notably quartzite, one of the most | | | | form were the Romans, who used them as features |
| versatile stones around. Most of the modern pattern | | | | throughout huge buildings. The Pompeii mosaics are |
| mosaics you see are made of this dazzling stone. | | | | almost at the standard of portrait art, using tiny colored |
| Mosaics and stonework | | | | stones to make startlingly lifelike pictures of people and |
| Mosaics and stone are a good match of media. | | | | legendary characters. The early Christian church |
| Mosaics are designed step by step as pictures, and | | | | revived them as decorative features in cathedrals, and |
| then reproduced in stone. This can be very demanding | | | | Islamic art created masterpieces of floral designs. |
| work, requiring tiny pieces of stone to produce color | | | | Modern mosaics have taken on a range of artistic |
| effects and shades. The pieces of the mosaic are | | | | forms, including large portrait-styles and the highly |
| painstakingly laid, one at a time. | | | | stylized forms of patterned stone used by designers, |
| Complex mosaics may require thousands of pieces of | | | | which can include very complex interwoven patterns |
| stone. In some cases even small gems are used to | | | | and separate picture pieces. |
| produce highlights, echoing classical techniques. Pattern | | | | Getting help and advice for your mosaics |
| or abstract mosaics may use much larger stones, | | | | Getting the mosaic you want is easier than it may |
| creating mosaic features throughout the stonework. | | | | seem. If you've got an idea for a mosaic, or want to |
| The most popular commercial designs are symmetrical | | | | explore your options for having pre-designed mosaic |
| features, using templates to create a series of designs | | | | designs, you can get advice easily. |
| in the stone tiling. | | | | Custom mosaics: You can arrange the process |
| Quartzite and design | | | | through a mosaic artist. They'll need to see your design |
| Quartzite is a perfect stone for mosaics. It's extremely | | | | idea, and give you a quote for the work. The |
| hard, colorful, and a reliable medium when set in stone. | | | | installation will need specifications, to set aside space |
| This combination of characteristics makes it perfect | | | | for the design in the stonework. |
| for any sort of design, however ambitious. It's also a | | | | Pre-designed mosaics: There's a big range of these |
| highly textured stone, providing excellent quality for | | | | designs, and some are quite beautiful. Mosaics can be |
| even individual pieces. | | | | installed by good stone suppliers, and you may be |
| Quartzite designs may be obtained as either ready | | | | surprised at the range of designs available. |
| made designs, matched to a choice of stone flooring, | | | | Mosaics can be laid anywhere, adding their unique style |
| or designer pieces made specifically for a | | | | to an environment. |
| predetermined area in the floor space. These complex | | | | They're still one of the most popular art forms in the |
| designs have to be commissioned and planned in | | | | world. |
| advance, to allow the stone laying and mosaic | | | | |