a picture or pattern design formed by small, opaque, geometrically shaped, varicolored fragments of ornamental hardstones such as lapis, turquoise, malachite, azurite, marble, and coral, named as florentine mosaic. The patterns are usually of flowers, or natural scenes, and are cemented on a background of white or black marble. Used for making boxes and plaques, or sometimes as ornaments. Materials used for florentine mosaic are pieces of colored stones such as marble, malachite, opal, turquoise, lapis lazuli, coral. Also known as
inlay work,
intarsia, or
pietre dure, or spelled pietra dura.
Fictile mosaic.
