The Micromosaic vs Mosaic Debate

The internet serves as a valuable resource, but it also struggles to maintain the accuracy of the information available to the public. A prime example of this issue is the term "micromosaic," which has become widely adopted for items that are actually called "mosaics." Only occasionally do we encounter listings that refer to these items by their correct name. This trend of misnaming has persisted for approximately a decade, leading many individuals to recognize them by the incorrect terminology. However, this widespread usage does not alter their true identity as defined by the majority. Simply relying on Google or the internet often leads to a proliferation of inaccurate information, as many experienced and professional sellers, aware of the distinction, acknowledge that "micromosaic" garners more interest, ranks higher in search engine results, and is popularly misapplied. They justify this choice by arguing that without the term "micromosaic," their products would be overlooked, given that it is the name most commonly used. Nevertheless, it remains true that two wrongs do not make a right. Thus, the challenge persists: how can we effectively differentiate between the two?

First what is a Mosaic?

Mosaic is the art of decorating a surface with designs made up of closely set, small pieces of material which can be glass or other ceramic. The tiles that make these works of art are called tesserae which can vary considerably in size. In jewelry they can range from tesserae as large as 10 millimeters to glass threads less than 1mm called filati (spun enamel) which makes the finest mosaics look like miniature paintings.

Defining Micromosaic

Mosaicists of the Vatican Studio in Rome note for their history of mosaic's in the paragraph titled 'Technical Aspects of a Micromosaic' in the below link that originally the dimensions of the loaf shaped tesserae or oblong rods which could be circular or cubic was less than 1mm in diameter or cross-section and not exceeding 2mm or 3mm in length. In the earlier 1800's when the technique progressed to finer threads, the filati were cut into even finer more minute tesserae. https://www.micromosaico.it/hi... 

• Tesserea tiles less than 1mm in diameter and 2mm to no longer than 3mm in length.   
• Tiles set in mastic vertically and stacked tightly end to end with no spaces between tiles.
• Depending on how detailed, there are hundreds up to as much as 3,000 to 5,000 tesserae per square inch.
• The tiles are sealed to fill all crevasses with wax for a completely smooth polished surface, no gaps and no spaces between the tiles.(unless wax has dried out or is damaged).

Defining Mosaic

These are both mosaics the very course tiles and a finer mosaic that has closely stacked tales that are waxed on the surface but the tiles are larger. There are some very fine mosaic's that bridge the two very different techniques, some even are a combination of the two. When both techniques are combined in one, it is defined as a mosaic as it is not 100 % a micromosaic. The finer examples of mosaic's do tend to be called a micromosaic in this case. Are they technically a micro? no...most are not but when they are close enough even the experts will classify as a micromosaic because that is the desirable technique to have and to be selling.

• Larger tesserae that is wider than 1mm in diameter or cross section and longer than 3mm. 
• Millefiori glass tiles used as quick way to add designs, flowers and shapes vs using separate colored tiles to build the design.
• The design is course with larger tiles in various shapes.
• Tiles can be set horizontal / lengthwise, vertical or combination of both that may or may not stacked tightly together. 
• Tiles are not sealed or polished smooth, however finer mosaic's like the one on the right above, may be waxed but that alone does not make them a micromosaic. 

Below are several old catalog pages for mosaic jewelry that date from 1911 to 1927. You can see what they are clearly calling mosaic and how today we are completely misidentifying it. These examples are what I would consider finer mosaics too but they are still easy to discern from micromosaic. 

Mini Mosaic

This term for mosaic's that are not micromosaics. Mini mosaic is not used or recognized by the jewelry trade when appraising and evaluating mosaic's. They are either micromosaic or mosaic for valuations. Artisan's may call their works mini mosaic's but if they are appraised they will be classified as a mosaic.