In this advertorial in partnership with Mosaic Trader and The Craft Kit (first published in Issue 9) we explore the finest European-made mosaic materials they stock, from traditional Italian smalti to elegant French porcelain and vibrant Murano glass – perfect for artists, designers and mosaic enthusiasts seeking premium quality and authentic craftsmanship.
By Rhona Duffy in partnership with Mosaic Trader and The Craft Kit
SMALTI
Smalti are pieces of handmade glass, originally developed in the Byzantine Empire and still crafted today in Italy using traditional methods. They’re known for their rich, vibrant colours, unique texture, and ability to reflect light in striking ways due to their uneven surface. Mosaic Trader and The Craft Kit carry several varieties of European smalti, ideal for both traditional and modern applications:
Morassutti smalti: Sourced from the historic mosaic town of Spilimbergo in Italy, Morassutti smalti (pictured below) are prized for their saturated colour and soft, waxy texture. This is a sintered glass product produced by mixing powdered silica with metal oxides and pigments. This mixture is placed into metal moulds and high pressure applied, the raw form is then fused and annealed in a glass kiln. This process means that it is infinitely customisable in shape and colour.
Spilimbergo smalti: A premium Italian product, Spilimbergo smalti are known for their excellent quality, shine and saturated colour. Available in a wide palette, these tessarae are carefully manufactured to maintain a balance between hardness (for durability) and ease of cutting. Artists favour this brand for its consistent texture and historical lineage, and the town of Spilimbergo is home to the Scuola Mosaicisti del Friuli.
Albertini of France: This is a multi-generational, family-run factory just outside of Paris. Smalti is created from molten glass poured into slabs, and then cut by hand, ensuring no two pieces are exactly alike. Albertini is one of the last factories to produce classic Dalles de Verre in both transparent and opaque colours. Their extensive colour palette in opaque and transparent emaux have secured them as a popular choice for large scale murals, portraits, and religious iconography as well as extensive restoration projects in cathedrals throughout Europe.
NATURAL STONE AND MARBLE
Natural stone has been a foundational element in mosaic art for millennia. Marble, limestone, and other stone provide durability. The earthy colour palette contrasts beautifully with the luminosity of glass or ceramic and has led to new roles for this traditional material. Several varieties of natural stone tiles and formats are available for different design needs from Mosaic Trader and The Craft Kit. Most stone in Europe is found around the Mediterranean basin and is superior in colour and structure.
Marble and stone rods: These elongated stone pieces resemble sticks of rock candy and lend themselves to being nipped off easily into a desired size to create classical-style mosaics, borders, or detailed figurative works. They’re especially popular for floor mosaics and inserts and offer subtle tonal variations that evoke Roman and Greek mosaic traditions. Available in a variety of shades, including Carrara white, Nero Marquina, and Verde Alpi.
Irregular stone: This selection includes tumbled or roughly cut natural stones with uneven edges and varied shapes. The irregularity creates a more organic and rustic appearance, ideal for landscapes, abstract designs, or architectural installations. Their natural colour variation, ranging from creamy neutrals to rich browns and dark greys, adds visual depth without overpowering the composition. Tumbled stone reveals its beauty best when sealed before grouting.
CERAMIC AND PORCELAIN TILES
Porcelain and ceramic tiles offer colour range, durability, textural variety, and affordability, making them a favourite for both contemporary mosaics and restoration work. Ceramic tiles typically come in matte or high gloss finishes and are easy to cut and fit into complex designs using a variety of cutting and shaping methods. Wall tiles are usually thinner and softer as they are fired to a lower temperature and not vitrified. Floor tiles or Gres and Porcelain are fired above the vitrification temperature and offer strength and durability. Mosaic Trader USA carries European brands renowned for their production quality and design consistency.
Cinca Porcelanico: These unglazed porcelain tiles from Portugal are frost resistant, making them suitable for both interior and exterior applications. Cinca tiles are distinguished by their uniform colour and dense body, which prevents moisture absorption and makes them a long-lasting choice for public or high-traffic installations. Their muted, natural palette, featuring colours like slate grey, sand, and charcoal, works well for minimalist or architectural designs.
Winckelmans: Produced in France by one of Europe’s oldest manufacturers of porcelain tiles, Winckelmans is known for its fine-grained, full-body porcelain and classical colour range. The velvety matte surface is eleganct, and the tiles are available in multiple sizes, and shapes allowing an infinite number of combinations. Often used in period restorations and Art Deco mosaics, Winckelmans tiles blend tradition with reliability and have been used in countless European metro systems, public buildings, and private homes.
CESI of Italy: The leader in bold and beautiful contemporary mosaic tiles as well as matching larger formats, CESI produces richly coloured, glossy or matte, exceptionally hard-wearing tiles. These are incredible value for money. Frost and UV resistant, these are an excellent choice for commercial mosaic signage.
GLASS TILES AND SHAPES
Glass tiles offer brilliance, depth, and colour to mosaic art, capturing and refracting light in ways that other materials cannot. Mosaic Trader and The Craft Kit offer several European brands of glass tiles that are particularly valued for their quality and vivacity:
Sicis of Ravenna: One of the most prestigious names in contemporary mosaic, Sicis tiles are manufactured in Italy using advanced techniques that ensure consistency, clarity, and colourfastness. Their signature 15mm square tiles are available in over 170 colours and are often chosen for luxurious installations in spas, hotels, and high-end interiors. Their thin profile and slightly rounded edges also make them ideal for curved surfaces and delicate applications.
Effetre of Murano: Effetre glass is made on the island of Murano, just outside Venice, and represents one of the finest traditions of Italian glassmaking. Available in both rod and plate form, this vibrantly coloured glass is soft, malleable and easy to fuse. Mosaic artists often use Effetre filetti for fine detail work, especially in portraiture or mixed-media naturalistic compositions where an expansive colour range is needed.
Lastre by Effetre are glass plates that are mouth-blown and rolled to ensure their high quality and excellent crystalline structure. They are UVA and frost resistant and can be fused with rods and millefiori for mosaics in indoor and outdoor settings. They are COE104 compatible with most Moretti and Effetre glass for warm and hot glass applications.
Cotisso (pictured below) are irregularly shaped glass blocks that are discarded from the crucibles used to melt the glass for Effetre’s rods, millefiori and plates.
Effetre glass rods are perfect for creating detail in complex designs and producing opus sectile inclusions in mosaic. They are UVA, frost and moisture resistant, so are suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Effetre millefiori are made using a traditional glassmaking technique where multicoloured patterns are created within glass canes or rods. These canes, also known as murrine, are then cut into smaller pieces and used in mosaics or other glasswork. The name millefiori translates to “thousand flowers” in Italian, reflecting the intricate, floral-like patterns often seen in the finished product.
SPECIALITY TILES
For artists and designers looking for unique textures or specialised effects, Mosaic Trader and The Craft Kit provide a selection of high-quality speciality tiles from France and beyond. These products add a distinctive touch to both fine art and functional mosaic installations.
Emaux de Briare: Produced in the town of Briare, France, these glass enamel tiles are known for their hardness and uniform size. The production process involves melting glass with ceramic oxides to create vibrant, colour-stable tesserae that are suitable for both wall and floor use. Available in 25mm classic squares, Emaux de Briare tiles are highly versatile and commonly used in public art, signage, and detailed pictorial mosaics. The Mazurka collection has full body colour with a soft matte ‘velvet’ surface. Harmonies are more crystalline with a mottled, glossy coloured finish on the upper surface. They both have slightly rounded edges and are easy to cut with minimal crumbling.
Connect:
www.thecraftkit.com – flagship retail web shop serving customers directly across the world
www.mosaictraderusa.com – serves retail customers in the USA
www.mosaictrader.com – for wholesale, business-to-business, and commercial customers