Neil Greer Mosaics

There are various different materials suitable for mosaics, each with a
different character and feel. The main types of mosaics are explained and
pictured below:

Smalti: Primarily produced in Venice, though also available in Mexico and
Russia, this is the most expensive material with a rich colour and reflective
sparkle unrivalled in mosaic materials. These tiles come in an intense range of
colours as well as metallics. Hand-coloured and hand-cut, using secrets
passed down through generations they are only produced by a few family
companies in Italy, who also supply the Vatican, for religious subjects. They
are generally left ungrouted, as they have an uneven surface, so they are
most suitable for artwork to be hung on walls, or murals rather than tabletops
or floors.

Unglazed ceramic: Hardwearing and frost-proof, the material is suitable for
floors and walls, tabletops and house signs, and is extremely hardwearing,
even for outdoor projects. It comes in a muted and earthy range of colours
and has a matt surface.

Vitreous Glass: This is good for walls, tabletops and decorative objects, but
is not ideal for floors, as it can break if subject to point loads. This material
offers a wide range of intense colours, which in some cases have metallic
striations.

Broken china and tile: These materials can be used to great decorative
effect, but are not designed to stand up to the elements, so they should
strictly be used for internal projects. The pieces tend to be larger, often with
an inherent surface pattern, which can give a highly decorative, patchwork
quilt effect.