What are the different ways to make a copy of a Roman mosaic and what are their advantages and disadvantages? Here we look at the different ways to work.

 

This is the same type of work as used in restoration and involves taking a tracing of each individual tile (tesserae) and then cutting a new tesserae to match the shape and colour.

This is a lengthy method to become competant in and the results tend more towards an artistic representation than the craft. Time consuming, you wouldn't want to lay an entire floor like this.

This work is done in 2 ways,

 

              a. The Ravenna Method also known as the Double Reverse Method

A tracing is made of the original mosaic and this tracing then transfers onto air drying lime putty. Once complete the gauze is glued over the top and once the glue is dry the mosaic is lifted off the lime bed and then transfered over to it's permanet base and cemented in.

In this method the cut or 'riven' surface is what is seen uppermost. The images show just some of the stages.

 

 

             b. Direct piece for piece work

A tracing is made of the original and then using carbon copy paper this tracing is transfered onto a baseboard, (Hardibacker cementfibre board is best but is does work with smooth wood of MDF).

The tesserae are then cut to match the original. This works best using tesserae all of the same thickness such as the 5mm thick Antique cut.

 

 

How a piece for piece tracing appears after it has been photocopied. You can see the work involved in just a small copy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

You make a tracing of the original mosaic but you follow only draw around the lines or areas of the same colour. You can use the Direct or Reverse method then to make the mosaic.

This way you are able to work faster but still have a very accurate copy.

 

The tracing here is only of the various parts of the mosaic, so with the dancers skirt here you would just outline the whole skirt and maybe the outline shown of the leg underneath. Then you set the tesserae by hand following The Rules and making the mosaic which would be recognisable as a copy of the original.

This is the method you would use if you were having to enlarge of scale down the original. The photos below show the results of using this method to scale down.

This is a brief overview and there will be more infomation coming on the individual methods.