Hand-Cut Gems

By Ariel Schuster, Sales and Design Consultant at Artaic

What is a hand-cut mosaic?

Good question – while in reality hand-cut mosaics are exactly what they sound like (literally mosaic tile cut by hand) perhaps it’s best when describing this ancient art form to bring it into the present by drawing some uniquely 2022 comparisons.

We all know the grid-style mosaic, the “Boomer” if you will.  He is established, tried and true, buttoned-up; he plays by the rules with his solid square tile organized in straight lines vertically and horizontally.  Now enter the hand-cut mosaic, the younger “Gen-Z” style, she is free-flowing and artsy, she creates her own rules and to come to life with tiles that are cut to shape and the grout lines that are irregular to achieve a higher level of intricacy and smooth, curving lines. 

The art of the mosaic is an ancient one, and while we pride ourselves on fulfilling our mission of making the medium more accessible through use of innovative robotic technology in our grid-style mosaics, our hand-cut mosaics are still designed using traditional methods, hands!  Hand-cut mosaics are simply stunning, and channel that Old-World feel of the mosaics you might find strolling along the streets of Lisbon, or exploring ancient Greece and Rome.

The bottom line is that with hand-cut mosaics, detail is the name of the game. If your desired design is full of intricacies but your available surface area is on the smaller side, the hand-cut style minimizes the potential risk of a pixelation effect.  And you know how the saying goes – it’s all in the details, baby!

Out of the various tile types we offer, hand-cut mosaics can be made featuring our Vitreous Glass or Natural Stone. There are unique benefits to each: with 180 colors of Vitreous Glass (and finishes including opalescent, metallic, gold, and silver) and 118 colors of Natural Stone (and finish options like a tumbled, honed, and polished finish), the world is your oyster! 

Bonus feature special to Natural Stone hand-cut mosaics – we can incorporate brass and stainless steel! Is the aesthetic of your swanky new restaurant lounge heavily influenced by Art Deco and Old Hollywood glamor? Well, old sport, why not compliment your marble bar backsplash with a brass border? 

Looking for a subtle way to mix metals in your space? Check out the nautilus medallion mosaic below for inspiration!

Commercial Applications

Whether you’re designing a mosaic for your guest bath or for the lobby floor of an iconic hotel, hand-cut has a place in both residential and commercial settings! The ability to replicate branding without risk of pixelation works particularly well for logos, and since hand-cut allows for a lot of detail within a smaller area, it’s perfect for typography as well. Take a look at Artaic’s collaboration with The Chamberlain Hotel in Corpus Christi, TX. Dating back to 1953, this historic building is deeply rooted in history. Our natural stone and waterjet brass bring sophistication and style to the pieces, while the designs of the mosaics themselves bring the history of the building to life. The custom typography and branding seen in the mosaics pay tribute to the original facade of the building. Set into the flooring of entrances of the building, the mosaics welcome guests in, inviting visitors to “enter as guests and leave as friends.”

How better to draw in sidewalk traffic or boost your business’s engagement on social media than with an eye-catching entryway mosaic? I’m absolutely LOVING the clever design created for the Southpaw Vet in San Diego – and the photos are beyond ‘gram-worthy (although let’s be honest, I’ll double tap on just about any photo involving an adorable pup)!

Residential Applications

For residential folks who simply want to elevate their living space, hand-cut mosaics can also be the perfect medium for designing a custom art-piece. Whether your vibe leans more towards the edgy side of the spectrum…

(Custom hand-cut mosaic for a residential entryway in Natural Stone — I am obsessed!!)

…Or you simply can’t resist the notion of immortalizing your family pup for posterity’s sake…

(Owners of this Indiana winery achieved the perfect mix of business and pleasure when they created this hand-cut mosaic of their adorable dog to feature on their rosé truck)

…there really is no limit to what we can create from your inspiration with a hand-cut style mosaic.

At Artaic, we like to abide by our mantra: Defy Ordinary, Live Beautifully. Our hand-cut and waterjet mosaics allow for the true embodiment of this mission. Whether you’re designing for a large-scale commercial space or a smaller, more personalized residential application, know that our mosaics will always bring an unmatched beauty and unique look that’s anything but ordinary.