Micro mosaic “tile after tile”
The micro mosaic, also known as minute Roman mosaic, or also as filato mosaic, appeared in Rome towards the end of XVIII Century and reached its peak on the following century. The St. Peter’s Basilica mosaic decoration project, initiated the use of this new technique, that was used mainly because of the firmness of the materials used, that compared to the wall paint, were deteriorating with less facility.
The enamels used for the micro mosaic came originally from Venice, but later on Rome became the biggest producer thanks to the artists’ studies linked to the Vatican that established itself during the second half of ‘700. Their main activity was to create pieces in a reduced size, like small paintings or inlay works that could be inserted into the objects such as ornaments or in a goldsmith’s brooch and in several jewellery pieces.
The enamels were spun, with the greatest mastery, into sticks in order to obtain tiny tiles, some of them were smaller than a millimetre. Jewellery and other small art objects, today exposed in museums or in the private collections, were at that time, something precious to show off awaking into people, who could not afford them, envy.
A sudden evolution characterized the history of the micro mosaic, that within few generations was hugely improved; it started with a simple and not very flexible technique (where the tiles were squared and lined in parallel) and ended with a new techniques more elaborated and innovative where the tiles took new shapes and colours.
Nowadays the micro mosaic, real Italian excellence, is appreciated all over the world and continues to touch for its beauty. The intention of my project is to continue to experiment an to modernise this fascinating art, making it an easy reach for everyone, without misrepresenting its history and its ancient tradition.
