Smalti

Smalti (the plural of smalto) are specilised mosaic tesserae made from richly coloured glass. Originally developed for Byzantine mosaics, the glass contains metal oxides which produce an almost infinite range of colour possibilities. The molten glass is poured into flat slabs which are then broken into individual smalti with rough, irregular surfaces that may be pitted with air bubbles. A thin layer of gold leaf can be embedded in smalti to produce gold tesserae. Smalti mosaics are normally ungrouted.

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 --