Why we’re all still mad about mosaics
Romans and Greeks loved them — and their appeal today shows no sign of fading . . .
There was a moment in the Sixties when a three-piece suite made a social statement — along with the hostess trolley. You were going up in the world. Perhaps you had even arrived.
It was not dissimilar to the romans and Greeks who used mosaics to convey their wealth and influence, but with one vital difference. Mosaics were made to stand the test of time. Pompeii’s mosaics even survived earth’s furies.
Centuries later, Victorian Britons developed a liking for mosaics, using them to arresting effect on building frontages. The V&A Museum of Childhood in London features intricate mosaic panels depicting scenes from agriculture, arts and sciences, while a monumental mosaic frieze encircles the entire royal Albert hall.
Archaeologist Nancy Grace, who excavated the beautiful mosaics at Chedworth roman Villa in Gloucestershire, recalls how well preserved the mosaics were when first uncovered. Mosaic is still going strong in our homes today, though not on such a grand scale.
Traditionally, mosaics were made up of tiny pieces of stone and fired clay, individually pushed into the earth or sand to make a pattern. The more colourful and intricate the pattern, the wealthier the individual commissioning the mosaic.
Maggy howarth has been designing exterior mosaics from her Lancashire workshop for 30 years using coloured pebbles sourced from India, China andnd Indonesia to create bespoke designs (ffrom £1,400 sq m plus design and installation,
maggyhowarth.co.uk). She also offers a variety of ready-made roundels.
‘Our clients are people who love their gardens and want to put something beautiful and lasting in them,’ she says.
GARY DROSTLE, an awardwinning mosaic artist based in London ( drostle.com), thinks people want to invest more in permanent artistic features.
‘I’m getting commissions from home owners who want something unique and personal,’ he says. ‘I’ve installed fishponds complete with koi, waterlilies and turtles. I’ve been asked to make mosaics of everything from mythical birds to monkeys.’
Drostle, who specialises in outdoor mosaics, made a piece inspired by Barcelona and Spanish tile patterns for the Viking Cruises artisan garden at this year’s Chelsea Flower Show. The garden won a gold medal. Work of this sort isn’t cheap.
Installing one of his fishpond mosaics will set you back from £6,000 per sq m. But commissioning artists to create a mosaic is not the only way to achieve the look. Companies such as Bisazza cover the gamut, offering entire walls, big installations, or small but beautiful kitchen splashbacks. Bisazza’s Bonaparte, a mosaic depiction of the general’s face, has proved popular installed on bathroom walls, as has the image of the Greek mythical beautiful young man endymion. Bisazza’s Granada Oro Giallo, a modern twist on a geometric design, works well as a stylish kitchen splashback. Prices start from £98 per sq m ( bisazza. com). Those with an eye for detail could create their own. Mosaic tiles come in a range of materials — stone, glass, marble or ceramic — as well as a huge array of colours. emma Churchill at Tile Giant has seen an increase in sales of metallic and mirrored mosaics. ‘ They catch and filter the light, making a space look bigger and airier, so they’re perfect for smaller bathrooms,’ she says. (Platinum Silver Mirror, £ 182.64 per sq m, tilegiant.co.uk).
even used sparingly they add drama. ‘You don’t need to retile your whole bathroom, simply prize off a few tiles behind the sink or one wall and replace them with mosaic,’ suggests Churchill.
They must be properly lit. Linda Levene, design director at Li Design, ( llidesign.co.uk) an interior design practice based in London, has been using mosaics for many years.
‘With the right lighting, mosaics look beautiful and seductive,’ she says.
‘Use small spotlights on an accent wall decorated with tiny gem-like mosaic, or light up an area of mosaic behind the bathroom sink with an LeD strip hidden in the bathroom cabinet.’
The newly launched Décor range at Amtico, the flooring specialists, has been driven by demand for Victorian style decorative floor mosaics.
‘Our mosaic-inspired luxury vinyl tiles are hard- wearing as well as being compatible with underfloor heating,’ says Sarah escott, senior designer at Amtico. ( Amtico Décor’s Geo ecru, from £165 per sq m, amtico.com).
If you want only a nod to the style, then Dar Lighting do some gorgeous mosaic pendants and table lamps (Louise table Lamp, £98.40, darlighting.com) and you can cheat with a mosaic-effect wallpaper from Graham Brown (Portuguese tile, £17.50 per roll, grahambrown.com).