This Byzantine icon mosaic, Santissimo Gold & Blue, is a beautifully handcrafted Byzantine-inspired mosaic. Mosaics were more central to Byzantine culture than to that of Western Europe. Byzantine church interiors were generally covered with golden mosaics. Mosaic art flourished in the Byzantine Empire from the 6th to the 15th centuries. Of note, glass was used in mosaics as early as 2500 BC, but it took until the 3rd century BC before innovative artisans in Greece, Persia and India created glass mosaic tiles. De Ferranti, in keeping with the Byzantine tradition, offers mosaics in Gold, White Gold and other precious metals.

Byzantine Icon Mosaic and Figurative Tesserae

Santissimo is a figurative composition centred on a frontal haloed face. Pale tesserae model the skin, dark charcoal and grey pieces define the hair and robe, and a broad irregular gold halo is set against flashes of blue and blue-green. The varied tesserae remain visible, so the image retains the physical character of mosaic rather than imitating a smooth painted surface. At close range the Byzantine icon mosaic reads as assembled fragments; from farther away the portrait resolves clearly.

Fiore Byzantino Gold & Blue uses the same broad gold-and-blue relationship in an abstract floral repeat, while Gold Fan Mosaic B offers a paler geometric alternative. Frescoes & Religious Iconography provides related sacred imagery in painted form, while the Byzantine mosaics glossary gives historical context.

Positioning a Figurative Mosaic Panel

Position a figurative mosaic with sightline and lighting in mind. Test eye level and viewing distance, and leave enough surrounding surface for the gold halo and square composition to read clearly. Oblique light can reveal the changing faces of individual tesserae, while intense direct light may create distracting glare. Final fixing, edge treatment, substrate preparation and suitability for any bathroom or other demanding interior should be confirmed for the project.

Project Guidance and Enquiries

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