The Inspired History of Terrazzo Tile
Necessity is said to be the mother of invention. But for Venetian mosaic workers, it can be said that "beauty" was the driving force behind the invention of terrazzo tiles.
Terrazzo was born more than 500 years ago, when artisans in the mid-16th century began to think about what to do with oddly sized pieces of marble discarded from construction projects. It looked cute, but was basically leftovers, and an inspired idea was born. Why not use marble remnants to build patios and bring more luxury to your own working-class residence?
At first, they placed these precious remnants in clay, then hand sanded the rough edges with a regrinding stone. The end result is a flat surface that is comfortable to walk on. Terrazzo was born! Over time, clever workers attached heavy grindstones to handles, creating tools they called "Galeras." To lighten heavy lifting while improving the quality of the terrazzo, artisans lean on their Galera, using their body weight to generate a force that can rub against a smoother surface than with their hands.
They do make the surface smoother, but there are still issues. It lacks the rich color and luster of marble. We don't know how they came up with their next brilliant idea, but we can't help but think it might have been a lucky accident and a great example of why you shouldn't cry over spilled milk! Interested we thought so.
It turns out that one of the artisans found that goat's milk helped restore the marble's original luster. Maybe he accidentally spilled a glass of milk on the terrazzo, maybe he had an epiphany and made the terrazzo tile industry take off. Regardless, the art of terrazzo (once mastered) is passed down from father to son and from generation to generation by families mainly from the Frulli region.
Michelangelo was an early lover, choosing to use terrazzo in St. Peter's Basilica in 1546. As chief architect hired by Pope Paul III, the renowned painter and sculptor designed intricately patterned terrazzo floors that have retained their beauty and lustre (with proper maintenance) over the years!
Although terrazzo did not gain a foothold in the United States until the early 20th century, one of the earliest examples of its use can be found in the home of the first president of the United States. George Washington's beloved Mount Vernon began as a small farmhouse and expanded into a 21-room mansion with terrazzo as his preferred flooring. Given that Washington is 6-foot-2 and over 200 pounds wearing today's size 13 shoes, we think it's fitting that he opted for such a durable ground walk.
One of the wealthiest families in America, descendants of railroad and shipping magnate Cornelius Vanderbilt also had a keen interest in flooring. In 1890, Italian immigrants known as "Terrazzo" were hired to lay terrazzo floors at the Vanderbilt mansion on Fifth Avenue in New York. Sadly, the mansion was demolished in 1926 to make way for the Bergdorf Goodman department store, so we lose this example.
In addition to the Vanderbilt Building, there are many buildings that display terrazzo, thanks to the fame terrazzo began after World War I. Partly due to the invention of the electric grinder, which allowed for finer finishes, faster speeds, and lower costs, the availability of brass dividers took terrazzo to a higher level as it created a highly artistic and intricate patterns. Architects quickly jumped on the terrazzo bandwagon as they realized that terrazzo was the ideal medium for the smooth, curved Art Deco designs of the 1920s.
Today, stunning examples of terrazzo can be found at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Guggenheim Museum and Radio City Music Hall in New York. The original terrazzo at the Colonial Theater in Miami Beach features bold lines and geometric patterns, while Disney's creatives use terrazzo for bright and colorful displays at Disney theme parks across the U.S. and around the world. If you're a sports fan, you'll find many stadiums and stadiums featuring team logos, badges, and mascots made of terrazzo. Chicago Blackhawks and Michigan State are great examples - just to name two! We'd be remiss if we didn't mention that the Hollywood Walk of Fame is the 18 wonderful terrazzo under our feet. Imagine all the celebrities and fans who have walked past this magnificent monument in the past and will continue to walk through it for many years to come due to the durability of terrazzo.
From public buildings and landmarks to private residences, terrazzo adds unparalleled elegance. For years, owners of mid-century homes have been exposing carpeted terrazzo and adding rustic terrazzo to patios and pool decks for outdoor use; new home builders are embracing
