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Glossary
Adhesives: The material used to affix the tesserae to a base surface. If creating an indoor piece that will not come in contact with moisture then PVA is suitable. For all other indoor pieces use Weldbond. For all outdoor pieces use a cement-based adhesive.
Andamento: The visual movement of the tesserae on the mosaic surface. The flow or coursing of the tesserae gives movement and rhythm.
Buttering: The application of adhesive to the back of individual tesserae.
Byzantine Mosaic: An art form created from AD 330 to the 15th century of a primarily religious nature. Initially begun by the Byantine Empire in the city of Constantinople.
Cement: A fundamental ingredient in mosaic making. It is easily available, malleable, a great adhesive, able to be coloured and cheap. It is rarely used alone but generally mixed with sand. The term "cement" can be interchanged in mosaics with "mortar" which is really a mix of cement, sand, water and plasticisers.
Cement-based adhesive: These are ready mixed cement based products - just add water.
Ceramic: This is a material made from fired clay. Porous examples include terracotta and bricks, non-porous examples include porcelain and stoneware.
Craft Paper: Strong brown paper, used in the indirect techniques of mosaics. It can be obtained ready gummed in rolls.
Direct Method: This is the most popular method of laying a mosaic, as the surface of the work can be seen at all times throughout its making. Simple procedure: apply appropriate adhesive to each individual tesserae or surface base and set out the tesserae.
Flow: The movement created by placing tesserae in a continuous direction, following a form or contour.
Glass Cutters: Tools for cutting glass and mirror. The simplest forms have steel cutting wheels, often tungsten carbide, while others have self lubricating wheels using an oil reservoir.
Grout: The material used to fill the interstices (gaps) between the tesserae. This can be purchased in ready mixed bags but it is essentially cement and sand.
Grout Squeegee: A tool with a rubber blade used to spread grout.
Hardie: A tool that looks like an inverted chisel, with the curved cutting edge made of tungsten carbide for strength and sharpness. Used to cut smalti.
Indirect Method: A method when the tesserae are fixed temporarily to paper. The tesserae are placed face side down and can be grouted before its final placement. The advantage of this method is the design can be made indoors and in sections if it is destined for an outdoor site and is large.
Interstices: The gaps or spaces between the tesserae.
Masking: The protection of an area of the mosaic from grout.
MDF: Medium-density fibreboard. This can be used as a base surface for indoor pieces only.
Millefiori: A form of mosaic glass, also known as cane-mosaic, in which circular canes of mosaic glass are arranged in patterns, fused together and then sliced.
Nibbling: The method of gently cutting away at glass or ceramic tile with nippers, for example when wanting to create a circle.
Opus: A term used to describe various mosaic tessellations and patterns. See Design
Picassiette: The was originally the nickname given to Raymond Isidore of Chartres in France. The pun on the word picassiette meant both 'plate stealer' and 'Picasso of plates" in reference to his home which is completely covered with found and collected china. The term now loosely refers to mosaic work made from recycled and broken china and tiles.
Plywood: Timber made from many layers of wood sheets glued together.
Prime: Preparing the surface of the base for working on by sealing with a mixture of PVA and water.
PVA: Polyvinyl acetate adhesive - an excellent bonding agent that is water resistant but not water proof.
Squeegee: A tool with a rubber blade used to spread grout
Tesserae: A Latin term for any square object. This is most commonly used term today for the materials used in mosaic making.
Vitreous Glass: Also known as mosaic glass. These are manufactured glass tiles (usually 20mm x 20mm) with bevelled edges and ridges on the underside to aid adhesion.
Andamento: The visual movement of the tesserae on the mosaic surface. The flow or coursing of the tesserae gives movement and rhythm.
Buttering: The application of adhesive to the back of individual tesserae.
Byzantine Mosaic: An art form created from AD 330 to the 15th century of a primarily religious nature. Initially begun by the Byantine Empire in the city of Constantinople.
Cement: A fundamental ingredient in mosaic making. It is easily available, malleable, a great adhesive, able to be coloured and cheap. It is rarely used alone but generally mixed with sand. The term "cement" can be interchanged in mosaics with "mortar" which is really a mix of cement, sand, water and plasticisers.
Cement-based adhesive: These are ready mixed cement based products - just add water.
Ceramic: This is a material made from fired clay. Porous examples include terracotta and bricks, non-porous examples include porcelain and stoneware.
Craft Paper: Strong brown paper, used in the indirect techniques of mosaics. It can be obtained ready gummed in rolls.
Direct Method: This is the most popular method of laying a mosaic, as the surface of the work can be seen at all times throughout its making. Simple procedure: apply appropriate adhesive to each individual tesserae or surface base and set out the tesserae.
Flow: The movement created by placing tesserae in a continuous direction, following a form or contour.
Glass Cutters: Tools for cutting glass and mirror. The simplest forms have steel cutting wheels, often tungsten carbide, while others have self lubricating wheels using an oil reservoir.
Grout: The material used to fill the interstices (gaps) between the tesserae. This can be purchased in ready mixed bags but it is essentially cement and sand.
Grout Squeegee: A tool with a rubber blade used to spread grout.
Hardie: A tool that looks like an inverted chisel, with the curved cutting edge made of tungsten carbide for strength and sharpness. Used to cut smalti.
Indirect Method: A method when the tesserae are fixed temporarily to paper. The tesserae are placed face side down and can be grouted before its final placement. The advantage of this method is the design can be made indoors and in sections if it is destined for an outdoor site and is large.
Interstices: The gaps or spaces between the tesserae.
Masking: The protection of an area of the mosaic from grout.
MDF: Medium-density fibreboard. This can be used as a base surface for indoor pieces only.
Millefiori: A form of mosaic glass, also known as cane-mosaic, in which circular canes of mosaic glass are arranged in patterns, fused together and then sliced.
Nibbling: The method of gently cutting away at glass or ceramic tile with nippers, for example when wanting to create a circle.
Opus: A term used to describe various mosaic tessellations and patterns. See Design
Picassiette: The was originally the nickname given to Raymond Isidore of Chartres in France. The pun on the word picassiette meant both 'plate stealer' and 'Picasso of plates" in reference to his home which is completely covered with found and collected china. The term now loosely refers to mosaic work made from recycled and broken china and tiles.
Plywood: Timber made from many layers of wood sheets glued together.
Prime: Preparing the surface of the base for working on by sealing with a mixture of PVA and water.
PVA: Polyvinyl acetate adhesive - an excellent bonding agent that is water resistant but not water proof.
Squeegee: A tool with a rubber blade used to spread grout
Tesserae: A Latin term for any square object. This is most commonly used term today for the materials used in mosaic making.
Vitreous Glass: Also known as mosaic glass. These are manufactured glass tiles (usually 20mm x 20mm) with bevelled edges and ridges on the underside to aid adhesion.
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Getting Started
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