Mosaics and Micro Mosaics

Alice Minter

ISBN 10: 1838510451 / ISBN 13: 9781838510459

Published by V and A Publishing, GB, 2026

About this Item

From the earliest mosaics in 4th century BCEGreece and the Byzantine splendour of Hagia Sophia to the celebratory friezeencircling the Royal Albert Hall, and Eduardo Paolozzi's commission for theLondon Underground, this book reveals the technical and stylistic evolution ofmosaic, and its prominence in political, public and civic spaces.Drawing on a conference at the VandA, supported by theGilbert Trust for the Arts, this volume provides both a sweeping history of thecraft and fascinating insight into key events. These include the competitionjudged by Titian, Tintoretto, Schiavone and Veronese in 16th centuryVenice to choose a mosaicist for St Mark's Basilica and the prominence ofmosaic in Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia.The volume also considers the practical - the collection andpreservation of micromosaics and also their creation through an interview withMaurizio Fiorvanti, a jeweller who has mastered the technique of micromosaicsand continues to create exquisite pieces from his studio in Rome.

Seller Inventory # LU-9781838510459

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Mosaics and Micro Mosaics
• Publisher: V and A Publishing, GB
• Publication Date: 2026
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1838510451
• ISBN 13: 9781838510459
• Binding: Hardback
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

The history of mosaics from 4th century BCE Greece to modern-day Rome

From the earliest mosaics in 4th century BCE Greece and the Byzantine splendor of Hagia Sophia to the celebratory frieze encircling the Royal Albert Hall, as well as Eduardo Paolozzi’s commission for the London Underground, this book reveals the technical and stylistic evolution of the mosaic and its prominence in political, public, and civic spaces.

Drawing on a conference at the V&A supported by the Gilbert Trust for the Arts, this volume provides both a sweeping history of the craft and fascinating insight into key events. These include the competition judged by Titian, Tintoretto, Schiavone, and Veronese in 16th-century Venice to choose a mosaicist for St. Mark’s Basilica and the prominence of mosaic in Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany, and Soviet Russia.

The volume also considers the practical―the collection and preservation of micro-mosaics and also their creation through an interview with Maurizio Fiorvanti, a jeweler who has mastered the technique of micro-mosaics and continues to create exquisite pieces from his studio in Rome.

About the Author

Alice Minter is the Senior Curator of the Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in London. A leading expert on European decorative arts, her curatorial work and research focus on the history, preservation, and technical mastery of precious objects, including gold boxes, portrait miniatures, and intricate micromosaics.

Dr. Simona Valeriani is a Senior Lecturer and historian at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) Research Institute. Specializing in the history of technology, craftsmanship, and material culture, her academic work bridges the gap between ancient manufacturing techniques and the cultural identities of public, civic, and political spaces.