Pietre dure

Meaning "hard stone", and sometimes known as "Florentine mosaic", this is intricate inlay work from thin pieces of coloured stone. The pieces are cut to fit together perfectly, in a similar way to opus sectile. This type of mosaic can look like a painting, as the textured patterns of different types of stone are used to mimic features such as clouds, leaves, feathers etc. See also cosmati.

additive -- adhesive -- admixture -- aggregate -- andamento -- armature -- background -- backing -- bozzetto -- byzantine -- cartoon -- cement -- ceramic -- ceramic tiles -- concrete -- cosmati -- crazing -- curing -- direct method -- efflorescence -- emblema -- encaustic tiles -- epoxy -- florentine mosaic -- geometric pavement -- glaze -- gothic revival -- graffito -- greek key -- grid technique -- grout -- grout file -- grout sealer -- guilloche -- herringbone -- hypocaust -- indirect method -- inlay -- intarsia -- interstice -- joint -- memento mori -- meta mosaic -- micromosaic -- monogram -- mortar -- opus -- opus musivum -- opus paladanium -- opus regulatum -- opus sectile -- opus tessellatum -- opus vermiculatum -- pelta -- peppering -- picassiette -- pietre dure -- pique assiette -- pseudo mosaic tiles -- PVA glue -- reverse method -- sgraffito -- silicone sealant -- smalti -- squeegee -- substrate -- terracotta -- terrazzo -- tessellate -- tessera -- tesserae -- tile cutter -- tile nippers -- trompe l'oeil -- vitreous glass tiles -- zillij --