Broken Plate Pieces & Grout

History

• The first known mosaics came from China and were made with shells, stones, clay and terra cotta. By the fourth century B.C., Greek artists had begun making more sophisticated scenes that were realistic. A similar evolution occurred in the Byzantine Empire in the fifth century B.C., where artisans moved from mosaic on floors to covering walls and ceilings. They used materials like gold and silver or special Italian glass called smalti. Cathedrals continued the art form throughout the Middle Ages. The modern artist Raymond Isidore began using pieces of broken glass and found items to create mosaics, a style which continues today.

Materials

• Save broken plate pieces when accidents occur. If treasured china gets broken during a move, recycle the pieces. Children doing dishes often become a source for broken plate pieces. Check secondhand shops for beautiful plates that have a chip or other fault.

  Grout will fill in the spaces between plate pieces. Grout comes in different colors; choose a type designed for exterior use if you plan to keep the piece outside. Other items needed include adhesive, nippers to cut ceramic pieces if needed, a trowel and a palette knife.

Projects

• Use your broken plate pieces and grout to make mosaic designs on flower pots, plaques, coasters or picture frames. If you have an old table gathering dust in the basement or attic, drag it out and renew the tabletop with mosaic design. Stepping stones can be decorated with your plate pieces, but don't plan these for high-traffic areas. If you don't have something around the house, purchase ceramic tile to decorate with grout.

Process

• Once materials are collected, choose an adhesive based on what will stick materials together. On a plastic or metal base, exterior tile adhesive works best. If you have a ceramic or concrete area, use a cement adhesive. On other materials, use acrylic adhesive. When applying the grout, work quickly to wipe up the excess before it dries. You can make or find a pattern for your piece if you want to portray specific objects.