Materials

A mosaic is created from hundreds of 'tesserae', or individual pieces. A tessera can be a piece of tile or smalti, marble or gold, a seashell or a bit of broken glass. Here is an overview of some of the materials that may be used in a mosaic from Sonia King's studio. This is only a partial list with limited color examples shown. (Please note, I don't actually sell materials. Please click on the links button at left to see a selection of recommended suppliers.)

	Smalti A hard-fired, enameled glass with an extensive color selection. The original material of the Byzantines, it is still manufactured in small factories in Italy. The surface is hand cut and highly light refractive.
	Golds Whether silver, copper, antique violet or a shade of gold, these tesserae are manufactured in Italy by sandwiching 24k gold between two sheets of glass for permanence. Used in Byzantine churches to awe worshipers.
	Vitreous Glass A wide color selection and consistent surface make this material especially useful for murals, signage, bathrooms and tabletops. Also available in blended, metallic colors.
	Stone Marble, slate, alabaster and other natural stones offer both permanence and texture. Roman floor mosaics have lasted thousands of years.
	Unglazed Ceramic Hard-fired and frost-proof, this material is suitable for all uses, including outdoors.
	Glazed Ceramic Wide color selection and light refraction are pluses. Care in selection can assure frost resistance.
	Glass Safety glass, mirror and colored glass add depth and excitement.
	Found Objects Shells, fossils, semi-precious stones and pebbles offer interest and texture.
	Semi-precious Stones

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