Explore the History of Mosaic Tile Art
Mosaic tile art is nearly as old as society itself.
In Mesopotamia, considered the birthplace of civilization, artists who lived 3,500 years ago realized the potential of creating artistic and decorative mosaics out of stone, shell and ivory. Throughout the Roman Empire, floor mosaics depicting Roman mythology and everyday life could be found in private homes and public buildings. During the Byzantine Empire, opulent tile mosaics adorned cathedrals and honored religious figures. People in the Muslim Empire used stone, glass and ceramic tile mosaics for the same purpose. They often took on geometric qualities due to the intellectual enlightenment of time.
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Mosaic Tile Art Today
People have kept up this historical, artistic tradition into the modern age, with marble tile mosaic art or decoration being a prevalent feature in kitchens, bathrooms, walls and floors, as well as other interesting home furnishings like fireplaces, patios and more!
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Tile mosaic art is a sophisticated feature to add to your home or other building. Its time-honored genuine beauty and limitless variation mean it can appeal to anyone and everyone.
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Tile mosaics combine color, texture, pattern, composition and design in a way that no other art form can compete with. Individual tiles can take on complex patterns that multiply across surfaces.
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Some people create patterns by combining various colored tiles in one mosaic. You can also draw or print art and other decors onto a tile mosaic to add another layer of artistry.
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The above shower niche by the Farm House Project combines a bit of everything with its design. It uses multiple tile textures to frame an intricate, Delft-style mosaic.
Terrazzo Tiles
Terrazzo tiles effortlessly marry aesthetic appeal and sturdiness, featuring a fascinating speckled appearance and extremely durable construction.
Artisan tile suppliers like Riad Tile create these tiles by pouring a cement base layer, adding small bits of stone that give the tiles their unique appearance, and carefully sanding the whole tile down until it is completely smooth before applying sealant. The strength and durability of Terrazzo tiles make them an excellent choice for flooring material. Their vibrant texture gives them the artistic appeal of a carpet while preserving the practicality of wood or other hard surface material.
Zellige Tiles
Zellige tiles are another excellent choice. They are a variety of glazed terracotta tile originally handmade in Morocco. Zellige is kiln-fired over olive branches, giving each tile a unique glaze, color, and texture. Moroccan zellige tiles are composed of unrefined clay that is hand-kneaded with a bit of water, shaped, carefully dried and kiln-fired to set each tile’s unique appearance. After firing, a glass enamel finish called “biscuit” is applied to the raw tiles, creating various finishes ranging from opaque to pearlescent to metallic. Every Zellige tile is unique. Zellige mosaics, therefore, become a stunning display of vibrancy and soft, varying texture.
If you are interested in adding tile to a space in your home, Riad Tile offers custom encaustic cement and terrazzo tiles, tailor-made according to your specifications! Riad offers limitless patterns and over 100 colors. You can choose from a large selection of Riad’s encaustic tile patterns, commission a new pattern, or even create your own!
Contact Riad Tile at 972-914-9600 or email hello@riadtile.com to discuss your custom order.
