For thousands of years artists have been using mosaics to produce some truly breathtaking works of art, and this ancient art form continues to inspire and be used by a number of contemporary designers and artists.
Here we take a look at some of the most amazing mosaic designs from around the world, which showcase the beauty of this amazing art form.
Ravenna, Italy
The city of Ravenna, in Italy, is known as the Mosaic City due to its wealth of stunning mosaics, which decorate the walls of its many churches and monuments. These mosaics date back as far at the 5th century, when the city was the seat of the Western Roman Empire.
The San Vitale Basilica, in particular, is home to some of the finest examples of Byzantine mosaics in the world and its ceilings are famously covered with a series of beautiful mosaics, which depict a variety of biblical scenes.
Cosmati Pavement, Westminster Abbey
The beautiful mosaic pavement that lies in front of the huge altar at Westminster Abbey is truly remarkable, and features a complexity and subtlety of design that’s almost beyond compare. The pavement was laid in the 13th century and is made of a variety of rare marbles, gemstones and pieces of coloured glass.
The pavement is a particular type of inlaid stone decoration known as Cosmati work, after the Roman family of marble-works who perfected the technique.
La Maison Picassiette, Chartres, France
La Maison Picassiette is truly a house like no other; between 1938 and 1964 the owner of the property, Raymond Isidore, completely renovated the building. He did so by covering the entire house, including the garden and even the furnishings, in a variety of ceramic tiles, broken glasses and bottle caps, creating an array of intricate mosaic patterns.
Whilst the mosaics here may not be as old, or indeed as historically important as some of the other entries on this list, they are no less impressive. The house is visited by thousands of tourists each year, keen to catch a glimpse of this impressive feat of ingenuity.
Here at Tile Mart we’re passionate about tiles and creative tile design. That’s why we’re  a leading supplier of a range of beautiful mosaic bathroom tiles, perfect for creating a work of art of your own. For more information please don’t hesitate to contact us today, by giving us a call on 01772 258 998 and a member of our friendly team will be happy to help you with your enquiries.
