Why natural stone mosaics are so popular?
The earliest known examples of mosaics comes from Mesopotamia, 4,500 years ago, in a blend of pieces from shells and ivory mixed with colored stones. 1000 years later, in the same Mesopotamian area, the first glazed tiles appear. And it gradually evolved to the most sophisticated forms and materials today, yet the natural stone remains the most spectacular material. The word "mosaic" originates in the Greek word "mouseion", meaning "muse", thus explaining the original meaning of the term: the mosaic decorated the houses and temples to protect them against deities.
Classic Travertine Splitface Mosaic
Basically, the mosaic is a figurative or abstract form, obtained from small pieces, for decorating an exterior or interior space. Nowadays, the mosaic is regularly present in the buildings where different religious rituals are held all over the world. At the same time, the mosaic is also popular in decoration projects for public or residential areas. Thus, we find mosaic in the bathroom, but we also have a mosaic in the kitchen, living room, office spaces, cafes, hotels ... virtually anywhere, for cladding and flooring, in the exterior and the interior.
If it is clear that the possibilities to combine the mosaic are unlimited, we should also underline that the materials from its structure are extremely diverse. There are mosaic from ceramic tiles, other composite materials, glass, metal, wood and of course, natural stone.
Natural stone mosaic has its undeniable charm, which does not consist only of colors, internal texture and the type of finish. It is mainly about the energy transmitted by a natural material, its durability and - equally important - the unique character of each piece of stone.
Picasso Marble Splitface Mosaic
This power of being unique will never be found in a ceramic tile mosaic, just as no glass mosaic can render the diversity of the natural stone. Sandstone, ceramic tile, glass, concrete are the results of the machine processing, of a matrix completed in a few hours, perhaps days, that have no chance against the art of nature that took millions of years for processing a piece of stone.
Mosaics are available in all types of natural stone: granite, marble, travertine, onyx, limestone etc. Although mosaics can be installed piece-by-piece, the current technology allows many of the mosaic structures to come attached to nets (30.5 x 30.5 cm), which leads to a very quick and convenient installation. In terms of finishes, the mosaics can be polished, splitfaced and tumbled.
Picasso Marble Splitface Mosaic
Next, we will discuss some qualities of the natural stone mosaic compared to other materials. First of all, we have a "heat" specific to this material. A mosaic in a travertine bathroom, compared to a glass mosaic, will always win by having warm, relaxing colors to fit in such a space. The same is true for a kitchen mosaic.
Even if the glass mosaic will have some reflections, which could be lovely for many people in the beginning, after a while the cold light, typical for the glass, will convey a state of tension and mental discomfort into the space. The ceramic tile mosaic will generate some faults that are hard to ignore. The surface of the tile, as soon as it is chipped, cannot be restored, so that particular piece has to be replaced.
And if we cannot find the same pattern of ceramic tile, the whole bathroom or kitchen mosaic is compromised. It's not the same if we have a travertine, marble or onyx mosaic. We will always find that type of travertine, marble or onyx and obtain a small piece to replace the faulty one: there will be no difference.
Scabas Travertine Honed Wicker Mosaic
One more thing to take into account: maybe our kitchen mosaic, made of ceramic tiles, can be found in someone else's bathroom or in the hall of a dentist's office, or in a wine cellar, because all the patterns obtained at the industrial level will perfectly resemble with each other. While the natural stone pieces will never resemble each other (the unique character of an object created by nature!).
We cannot deny the exciting, ultramodern look of metal mosaics, but they can be used in a very special environment that requires an above average investment. That's why a mosaic in the bathroom or in the natural stone kitchen will always be a much more convenient option and even more affordable. The price of a natural stone mosaic may be lower compared to a mosaic made of sandstone or glass.
Mix Marble Polished Mosaic
Therefore, we have a wide range of mosaics, each material with a variable position on the arguments scale, whether aesthetic, practical, costs, maintenance and installation. As you can see, no matter how fluctuating is the top of the best materials used for mosaics, natural stone remains the first.
To find out more on the diverse and impressive offer of natural stone mosaics, get in touch with us over the phone at +40318.222.333, or email: email@example.com.
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