Mosaic Tiles: A History and Some General Information
A mosaic tile is a type of tile 2 inches or 5 centimeters in size. They can be bought as square tiles available in hardware stores or as unusually shaped tiles available at craft stores, tile specialty stores or at home design stores. The term mosaic refers to a picture or design made up of smaller materials of different textures, colors and makes.
Mosaic dates back to some 4,000 years ago with the use of terracotta cones to produce a picture. By eight century BC, colorful pebbles and stones were used to create mosaic designs which were unstructured and vague. It was the Greeks in 400 BC, who invented the pebble technique that created art based on precise geometric models of human and animal design.
Today, mosaic tiles are quite popular as they provide elaborate patterns. They are usually found in gardens, churches, entry ways and even some homes. Mosaic designs can also be created with the use of clay, glass or gold to produce excellent material for putting together intricate designs. The color pallet for mosaic design tiles can range from rich vibrant colors to classic darker hues. Tile texture and versatility are also considered for artistic purposes.
One of the most popular choices for mosaic tile is marble tile which is ideal for both wall and floor applications. Marble tile is preferable for tiles in darker shades as they exude a classic and sleek design that adds depth to any setting. Moreover, darker shades of marble make dirt and dust less visible compared to lighter-colored marble. Hexagon mosaic floor tile can be formed from granite, basalt and limestone.
Glass mosaic tiles are great for decorating kitchen, bathroom walls and floors. There is a specific glass mosaic called smalti tile which is very colorful in design and can be used as hexagon mosaic floor tile . Smalti is an Italian word used to describe the process of pasting or glazing glass using potassium carbonate or sodium. The end product of Smalti usually looks like stained glass windows.
There are also mosaic tiles called fused glass tile. This is a flat glass cut into shapes and heated in a furnace. By placing the hot colored glasses together, they create a mosaic. A variation for fused glasses can be produced by applying powder to the heated glass; this creates a foggy appearance to the end product. A hexagon mosaic floor tile can be applied with fused glass tiles to add distinct flare to your bathroom or kitchen design.
Mosaic dates back to some 4,000 years ago with the use of terracotta cones to produce a picture. By eight century BC, colorful pebbles and stones were used to create mosaic designs which were unstructured and vague. It was the Greeks in 400 BC, who invented the pebble technique that created art based on precise geometric models of human and animal design.
Today, mosaic tiles are quite popular as they provide elaborate patterns. They are usually found in gardens, churches, entry ways and even some homes. Mosaic designs can also be created with the use of clay, glass or gold to produce excellent material for putting together intricate designs. The color pallet for mosaic design tiles can range from rich vibrant colors to classic darker hues. Tile texture and versatility are also considered for artistic purposes.
One of the most popular choices for mosaic tile is marble tile which is ideal for both wall and floor applications. Marble tile is preferable for tiles in darker shades as they exude a classic and sleek design that adds depth to any setting. Moreover, darker shades of marble make dirt and dust less visible compared to lighter-colored marble. Hexagon mosaic floor tile can be formed from granite, basalt and limestone.
Glass mosaic tiles are great for decorating kitchen, bathroom walls and floors. There is a specific glass mosaic called smalti tile which is very colorful in design and can be used as hexagon mosaic floor tile . Smalti is an Italian word used to describe the process of pasting or glazing glass using potassium carbonate or sodium. The end product of Smalti usually looks like stained glass windows.
There are also mosaic tiles called fused glass tile. This is a flat glass cut into shapes and heated in a furnace. By placing the hot colored glasses together, they create a mosaic. A variation for fused glasses can be produced by applying powder to the heated glass; this creates a foggy appearance to the end product. A hexagon mosaic floor tile can be applied with fused glass tiles to add distinct flare to your bathroom or kitchen design.
