Mosaic Tables

Mosaic is a form of decorative art in which small tiles or fragments of tile are used to create a pattern or picture. The art of mosaic flourished with the Moors. The intricate geometric designs used to decorate buildings in the Islamic world are often produced as mosaics. The process is known as "Zelij" in North Africa. All of the Moroccan Mosaic / Zelij is produced in the historic city of Fez. Starting with the clay of Fez , the impurities are extracted first, then the clay is mixed until homogenous, cast into square tiles, and left to dry in the fiery sun. Once dry, the mosaic tiles are smoothed, rendered flat, and dipped in colored enamel. The enamel is made of natural minerals such as tin, zink, and copper. The mosaic tiles are then kiln-baked. Our Moroccan mosaic artisan begins by hand-cutting the 4"x4" square piece of tile into the desired shape. Then, just like a puzzle, each piece of mosaic / Zelij is placed face down inside the metal table frame to create the mosaic table design. Concrete cement (or resin filling) is poured in to reinforce the table for maximum stability and durability. The next day, the table is turned over. The mosaic tiled top is meticulously examined to make sure each piece of tile is inlaid in the desired geometric shape and that the surface is perfectly flat. Then the tile grout is applied and the top sealed. An elegant and sturdy iron base completes the TAZI DESIGNS' mosaic table. The tables are then carefully packed and loaded on the container and shipped to our San Francisco warehouse for distribution.