
The tesserae can have a smooth or corrugated surface and are available in. 8 In 537, he completed the construction of a new patriarchal cathedral in the capital city of Constantinople that would be the global center of the Orthodox Church: the Hagia Sophia. Mosaic Art Source mosaic definition: gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) gold leaf tesserae (mosaic gold) 24k gold-leaf tesserae are made up of a glass support layer (usually transparent, at times opaque red or coloured) less than one centimetre thick. The reign of Justinian I in the 6th century coincided with the first golden age of the Byzantine Empire.

Smalti can be used whole but if you want to cut this type of mosaic we recommend using Leponitt double wheeled glass mosaic cutters as these really do cut cleanly and accurately as well keeping any waste to a minimum which is important given the cost of the material. Once cooled each gold plate is meticulously hand-cut and although the gold appears as if it is on the surface of each tessera, it remains protected reflecting. Aureo is handmade by fusing together sheets of glass coated with thin gold leaf. Mosaic Gold tesserae texture detail on Flickr by klabhead. Smalti may be grouted but be careful because the uneven surface often has little holes made by air bubbles escaping during the cooling process and these can trap grout which is hard to remove and can make the finished piece look a bit spotty. The Virgin’s green-and-gold halo is a modern restoration. Smalti is often left ungrouted which works well if the gap between the pieces is minimal giving the impression of a continuous flow of colour.
GOLD TESSERAE SERIES
It is then allowed to cool and cut into smaller pieces by hand in a series of stages to finally achieve the tesserae that are available to buy on our site. It is made by pouring a molten glass mix containing pigments into a circular press roughly 60cm in diameter in which it is flattened down to thickness of approximately 18-20mm. Its brilliance and range of colour cannot be matched in any other material and are enhanced by its slightly uneven texture, making it ideal for artistic mosaic and decorative work. Fabulous examples can be seen in Byzantine work. This undulating handmade Italian glass has been used by mosaicists for centuries. fabulous traditional glass smalti mosaic tesserae from italy London shop online Mosaic Tiles, Tools, Kits, Frames, Adhesives & other Mosaic Materials. The most beautiful of all glass mosaic tesserae.

