What Are Micro Mosaics?
Micro mosaics (also spelt micromosaics) are a special form of this craft using particularly small pieces of glass, or, in later Italian pieces, an enamel-type material, to create images. Some micro mosaic examples survive from ancient Roman times, and they were also fashioned during the Renaissance period in Italy, and reached the height of their popularity in the middle of the 1800s.
A Vatican Mosaic Studio was established from 1576 to create mosaic replicas of the altarpieces in Rome’s St Peter’s Basilica. And micromosaics were eagerly snapped up by those doing the Grand Tour, the upper-class custom of travelling across Europe that was popular from around 1660 until the mid-1800s, because these mosaics could easily be taken back home.
One distinctive characteristic of micromosaics is that their individual tiles tend to be rectangular rather than squared. And there are sometimes thousands of tesserae or tiles in every square inch.
Micromosaic Jewellery
Around the time when Grand Tours were most popular, those in wealthy European families would commission their own mosaics and wear them as jewellery or send them home as an early form of postcard. Jewellery typically depicted famous Italian landmarks, although sometimes items showed aspects of Roman mythology.
Today, the best micro collections are to be found in the Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg Russia, and the Gilbert Collection in London, while Asia has also been the producer of a number of present-day examples, thanks to the use of modern precision machinery.
Mosaic Craft Tiles from Hobby Island Mosaics
At Hobby Island Mosaics, we’re a leading supplier of mosaic craft tiles and everything associated with them, including tools, grouting, glue, bases, pigments and whole kits. Can’t find what you’re looking for? If we don’t already stock something you need, let us know and we’ll source it for you. But you won’t find a greater selection of tiles anywhere else, or a greater variation of designs, thanks to our extensive network of suppliers worldwide.
Benefits to buying from us include a robust returns policy (that means a 14-day no quibble money back guarantee), an excellent customer service and the high quality of our products. All orders are processed on the day we receive them, and the majority of our customers receive their items within 24 hours, since our stock is held in the UK. We don’t want our customers to get frustrated while they’re waiting for their supplies in the middle of a project! You’ll also find our website is highly user-friendly.
If you have any queries, either before placing your order or afterwards, we’re here to help. We’re at the other end of the phone during office hours and via email all the time. And because our customer service advisors use the products themselves, they’re highly knowledgeable and very well-placed to offer support.
Finally, delivery options are flexible, with orders under 2kg sent via Royal Mail First Class and everything heavier is sent with a tracked courier service. There’s more online.