Mosaic tiles are crafted from ceramic, glass and other materials. They are also an art form that has a long history.
They are typically around two inches and come in a wide variety of colors and textures; they are used to create scenes or designs when laid out together.
Typically they are square when used for floors or walls, but can be found in many shapes if they are purchased through specialty art suppliers. Mosaic actually refers to art that is made up from many pieces and parts, so literally they are translated to mean many pieces or parts.
History as Art
They have been used as art since Egyptian times. There has been evidence of them in tombs unearthed in Egypt that date back to the BC era. They were used to decorate tombs, palaces and public buildings during the Roman Empire as well.
Many of the ancient Catholic churches were ornately decorated with these tiles as well.
They were usually very brightly colored and were made from chipping larger tiles into smaller tiles. The work was laborious, especially since it took up to a few years to painstakingly lay the tiles out one by one as the scene or picture slowly emerged.
You have the choice of ceramic or rustic stone, due to the fact that these walls will not be walked upon. Recycled glass is another choice to think about. This type of glass tile comes in a variety of colors with sizes and shapes that abound. For those of you who are environmentally conscious, this is the way to go. Also because these tiles won’t be walked on, you can go with metal tiles which are lighter in weight. No matter what material you choose, you have the choice to have these tiles hand painted, antiqued or matched to any color of your choosing. One thing you should know is that installing metal tiles may be a bit more difficult.
If you are looking for an extremely artful appearance to your walls, you might want to go with a tile mural. These tile murals come in a wide assortment of themes and are especially attractive when used as a kitchen backsplash on the walls of your kitchen between the cabinets and the counters. Tile murals will also add something special to any room of your home, supplying a unique and comfortable touch of elegance to your decor.
From hand painted art to modern technology the final product can be presented in many forms. To give you some examples, you have tiles that are not glazed which range in color from light sand to bright red brick. China clay, China stone, flint and white lead are among some of the plain glazes offered. Manufactures make different colors by adding ground metal oxides.
