Colour and mosaics
Direct
method
The tesserae were laid on to a levelled bed of fine sand in a tray on which the design had been drawn. When the mosaic pattern was finished a sheet of linen or paper was glued to the upper surface of the tessellation and the panel was lifted from the tray and inverted between boards. The tesserae, now face down, were coated with fine mortar and the panel again inverted. The mosaic panel, now face up, was slid off the board into position on the damp mortar bed. After a period of time the linen backing was peeled off and the tesserae were pushed down into the mortar. The final stage was a grouting of fine mortar, often coloured pink, to fill in the spaces.
The tesserae were laid on to a levelled bed of fine sand in a tray on which the design had been drawn. When the mosaic pattern was finished a sheet of linen or paper was glued to the upper surface of the tessellation and the panel was lifted from the tray and inverted between boards. The tesserae, now face down, were coated with fine mortar and the panel again inverted. The mosaic panel, now face up, was slid off the board into position on the damp mortar bed. After a period of time the linen backing was peeled off and the tesserae were pushed down into the mortar. The final stage was a grouting of fine mortar, often coloured pink, to fill in the spaces.
Reverse
method
A mirror image of the required design was drawn on to a sheet of linen and the tesserae were glued face down onto the sheet. The whole pattern was covered in fine mortar and then turned the other way up.
The mosaic would be plastered in to its final location and cleaned by using a large stone, sand and water. The mixture of sand and water was rubbed over the mosaic with the stone to remove any unwanted cement and plaster from the coloured patterns. Repairs were often needed if the mosaic was in a well used part of the building.
A mirror image of the required design was drawn on to a sheet of linen and the tesserae were glued face down onto the sheet. The whole pattern was covered in fine mortar and then turned the other way up.
The mosaic would be plastered in to its final location and cleaned by using a large stone, sand and water. The mixture of sand and water was rubbed over the mosaic with the stone to remove any unwanted cement and plaster from the coloured patterns. Repairs were often needed if the mosaic was in a well used part of the building.
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