When were glass tiles invented?

1-inch (25 mm) glass tiles Closeup of glass tile sticks on a mesh tile square.

Glass tiles are pieces of glass formed into consistent shapes.

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Early history

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Glass was used in mosaics as early as BC, but it was not until the 3rd century BC that innovative artisans in Greece, Persia, and India created glass tiles.

Whereas clay tile is dated as early as 8,000 BC, there were significant barriers to the development of glass tile, including the high temperatures required to melt glass and the complexities of annealing glass curves.

In recent years,[when?] glass tiles have become popular for both field tile and accent tiles. This trend can be attributed to recent technological breakthroughs,[example needed] as well as the tiles inherent properties; in particular, their potential to impart intense color, reflect light, and remain impervious to water.

Glass tile introduces complexities to the installer. Since glass is more rigid than ceramic or porcelain tile, glass tiles break more readily under the duress of substrate shifts.[1]

Smalti tiles

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Smalti tile, sometimes referred to as Byzantine glass mosaic tile, is a typically opaque glass tile originally developed for use in mosaics created during the time of the Byzantine empire.[2]

Smalti is made by mixing molten glass with metal oxides for color in a furnace; the result is a cloudy mixture poured into flat slabs that are cooled and broken into individual pieces. The molten mixture can be topped with gold leaf, followed by a thin glass film to protect against tarnishing. During the Byzantine era, Constantinople became the center of the mosaic craft, and the use of gold leaf glass mosaic reached perhaps its greatest artistic expression in the former seat of the Orthodox patriarch of Constantinople, the Hagia Sophia.

Traditional smalti tiles are still found today in many European churches and ornamental objects; the method is used by some present-day artisans, both in installations and fine art. In the s, mass production methods were applied to Smalti tile manufacturing, which enabled these tiles to find their way into many middle-class homes. Instead of the old method of rolling the colored glass mixture out, cooling, and cutting, the new method called for molten liquid to be poured and cooled in trays, usually resulting in 3/4 inch chicklet-type pieces.

Modern era

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Glass mosaics of sea turtles on a subway platform

Since the s, a variety of modern glass tile technologies, including methods to take used glass and recreate it as ' green' tiles, has resulted in a resurgence of interest in glass tile as a floor and wall cladding. It is now most commonly used in pools, kitchens, spas, and bathrooms. Although Smalti tile remains popular, small and large format glass products are now commonly formed using cast and fused glass methods. The plasticity of these last two methods has resulted in a wide variety of looks and applications, including floor tiles.[3]

In the late s, special glass tiles were coated on the back side with a receptive white coating. This has allowed impregnation of heat-transfer dyes by a printing process reproducing high resolution pictures and designs. Custom printed glass tile and glass tile murals exhibit the toughness of glass on the wearing surface with photo-like pictures. These are especially practical in kitchens and showers, where cleanser and moisture resistance are important.

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See also

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References

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It is generally accepted by scholars that glass mosaics date back to at least B.C. Of interest, is that clay tiles are first thought to have been produced as early as B.C. The timeline differential is mainly owing to the far greater temperatures needed to melt glass.

In the spirit of expedience let&#;s focus on a Western style. The Italian city of Ravenna, in the Emilia-Romagna region, became the center of Roman mosaic art around the 5th Century. Here we find the famed Mausoleum of Galla Placidia. This faith based structure is thought of as one of the finest and best-preserved examples of the mosaic arts from the period. Amongst the many works there is &#;The Good Shepherd&#;, perhaps its most important work. It is pictured below.

After a period of decline in the relatively moribund Middle Ages, Venice and in particular the island of Murano, grabbed center stage in the glass &#;world&#; and ultimately also achieved a certain prominence in mosaics.

Moving forward along the historical timeline the well known site lagazzettaitaliana.com, helps us out with: &#;in the late s, the Art Nouveau movement brought a resurgence to mosaics; and although mosaic tiles were being made and exported by Italian glassmakers to be used in buildings throughout the world, individuals were becoming interested in adding mosaic architectural elements to their homes. Today, with the wider interest that individuals have in creating art, numerous mosaic workshops are offered throughout Italy.&#;

Here are three general glass mosaic trends, in no essential order, that you may want to consider. As a word of caution, these &#;trends&#; are not this year or necessarily last year. Rather in a centuries-old art form, they represent a longer-term focus.

1. The inclusion of other elements such as stone into glass mosaic designs. The industry legend Pino Bisazza is quoted as saying, &#;We decided to &#;contaminate&#; traditional mosaics by inserting stone elements, with great results.&#; Certainly an interesting choice of words, but the success of the approach is undeniable!
2. Personalize your glass mosaic. Dream up your signature color scheme. Draw an abstract design all your own. How about having a family crest reproduced? Today, computer assistance in layout and manufacture augment the traditional hand-cutting techniques that were used for centuries. Therefore, we can deliver a personalized mosaic element in a cost-efficient fashion.
3. Destination kitchens cry out for glass mosaic backsplashes! Mark your kitchen as a destination with a unique glass mosaic. The Sorbetto Collection from Country Floors is an excellent example as you can see below.

It&#;s time to tidy up this post and say goodbye. There are Country Floors locations all over America. Stop in and ask them to show you how to make glass mosaics your friend.

For more Blue Glass Pool Tilesinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.