Thirty-Second Post: A History of Mosaic and Tile, Part One

Mosaics: The Beginning of Architectural Ceramics, Part One

An Introduction to Architectural Ceramics: Ancient Mosaics

Dolphins from Greece

The field of Architectural Ceramics has played a dynamic role in the decoration of architecture from ancient civilizations to modern times. This field includes tile, mosaic and sculpture that is made from clay or glass. The history of Architectural Ceramics is fascinating, beginning in ancient Greece during pre-classical times (c. 800bce). Although ancient mosaics are often associated with the Roman Empire, the Greeks created the art form. Interestingly, the earliest Greek mosaics were not ceramic at all but were constructed from small square chips of stone. The Romans later called these chips “tesserae” which is where our word tessellation comes from. 

Detail showing tesserae

 

The early mosaic artists must have felt the restrictions of the limited color palette offered by stone because they soon began using ceramic materials and glass in addition. The Romans loved all things Greek and created mosaics throughout their empire, from England in the West to North Africa in the South and to Turkey and Israel in the East. It's a thrill to view many of these mosaics still in place in their original locations. Others can be viewed in museum collections. 

The Tree of Life 

from the floor of a synagogue in Hamam Lif in Tunisia

Ancient mosaics have survived because the materials they're created from are so durable. In every case ancient mosaics were for floor decoration only--apparently it didn't occur to the Greeks and Romans that mosaics could be mounted on walls. For walls they used the fresco technique which involves painting on still moist plaster. Many frescoes from those times have also survived to this day including some from the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete dating from as early as1500bce.

Frescoes from Minoan Crete

 The themes of ancient mosaics include gods and heroes doing what gods and heroes did, food, blood sports, animals, floral motifs,war and daily life. One of my favorite mosaics is from the ancient city of Pompeii that shows a Roman soothsayer telling the fortune of two surprised, somewhat overstuffed and richly dressed women. One doubts that the fortune teller is predicting the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius that destroyed the city in 79ce, but maybe she did. This mosaic and many others like it from Pompeii were buried for centuries in volcanic ash from Mt. Vesuvius, which although it killed tens of thousand of people, preserved the art for us to appreciate and learn from today.

Fortune teller from Pompeii

Medusa from Pompeii

Alexander the Great

George Woideck

George Woideck is a ceramic artist that specializes in tile and mosaic.  View his work as an artist-in-residence and professional development workshop presenter at tileandclayart.com.