Mosaic is a picture or decorative pattern made by setting small fragments of marble, glass or ceramic materials into cement or plaster. These fragments are called tesserae.

This art form was first used by Ancient Greeks, who made decorative pavements out of contrasting pebbles. The Romans further developed the technique using marble cubes and glass tesserae. Mosaic floors are found throughout their empire. The Early Christians used enameled glass to create large mosaics on the walls and vaults of churches. During the Middle Ages, the Byzantine Empire and the West used mosaic art.

Use declined after the Renaissance but was still evident throughout the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, particularly in Italy. The nineteenth century saw a revival of interest in mosaic. The European movements of Art Nouveau and the Vienna Secession used mosaic in new ways to decorate houses, railway stations and department stores.

In the twentieth century, industrialization made it possible to manufacture mosaic materials. This led to widespread use, especially in the United States where many Post-War era office blocks display vast and elaborate mosiac art.

Clearly, mosaic has been a prominent art form throughout the ages. As opposed to most other art forms, mosaic in its simplest form is fairly easy to learn. So, whether you're in search of fine mosaic pieces to purchase or interested in learning how to make a mosaic yourself, we hope you'll find this website interesting and informative.