Micro mosaic
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Micro mosaics are a special form of the mosaic arts that utilize unusually small mosaic components to craft what often are extraordinarily complex and detailed patterns or images. Examples of finely crafted micro mosaics dating back to the 3rd century BC are known to exist, although the apex of their popularity was the mid 19th century. Early handcrafted examples of micro mosaics are primarily European and Middle-Eastern in origin, although Asia has produced a number of contemporary examples utilizing modern precision machinery to produce the diminutive elements.
Micro mosaics are most often seen in jewelry although they were regularly incorporated into ecclesiastical objects such as crucifixes and shrines.
Micro mosaics are closely related to marquetry in theme and artistic method, although the resulting products are classified differently due to the applications and materials used.
