| By A.Caxton | | | | the Institute of Mosaic Art. Individual mosaic artists |
| Are you looking for something a little different to | | | | also have their own web pages, of course, or there |
| accentuate your home? Some piece of art that will | | | | are cooperatives such as Mosaic artists. There's even |
| be unusual or striking - but also attractive to the | | | | a mosaic webzine, Mosaic Matters. |
| eye? | | | | History of the Mosaic |
| Why not try a mosaic, one of the most ancient | | | | Mosaics have been found as early as 4000 BC, in a |
| forms of art known to man and one that has | | | | palace in what was then Macedonia. Roman families |
| flourished in cultures across the world. Whatever | | | | also decorated their villas with mosaics. Some of the |
| your choice in art - the human figure, flowers, animals | | | | most well-known mosaics today were found in the |
| - it can be reproduced as a mosaic. Reproductions of | | | | excavated cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, in Italy. |
| famous mosaic styles of the past are selling well | | | | St. Peter's Basilica in Rome is also embellished with |
| today, as are modern creations. They can be placed | | | | beautiful mosaics. |
| in any room the house without fear that they will be | | | | The Alexander Mosaic, also known as the Battle of |
| harmed by heat, damp or humidity - indeed they can | | | | Issus, is one of the most famous mosaics in the |
| even be displayed in your yard. | | | | world. It dates from approximately 200 BC, and |
| A mosaic is a picture or decoration made of tiny | | | | depicts the battle between the forces of Alexander |
| pieces of "tesserae, "colored stone, glass or other | | | | the Great and Darius III. It measures 19 X 10 feet, |
| material, which are inlaid onto a backing to form a | | | | and contains over one and a half million tiny tesserae! |
| design. These pieces are cut into squares, triangles, | | | | In 2003 a copy of this mosaic was made (the original |
| or other shapes, which is an effort in itself. These | | | | is rather damaged). It took 22 months to finish the |
| tesserae are then pasted onto such things as vases, | | | | mosaic. Can you say, labor-intensive? |
| to more intricate designs inset into tables, walls, | | | | It is fascinating to look closely at these mosaics to |
| floors or ceilings, on fireplaces or even out in your | | | | see the "pointilism" involved in the depiction of the |
| pool. | | | | figure of an animal or human being. Each small square |
| Organizations For Mosaic Artists | | | | of color must be precisely placed and the colors |
| Many organizations exist today to further the cause | | | | graduated precisely to give the image of realism. |
| of the mosaic - which is flourishing today as much as | | | | There's no question that a mosaic vase, table or wall |
| it did thousands of years ago. The Society of | | | | hanging will be a lovely addition to your home. |
| American Mosaic Artists has a web page, as does | | | | |