Our new Mosaic-Blues website is under construction to better reflect the evolution of Mosaicblues over the past 3 years. It will be fully operational next January.
This change of platform will also affect this blog. While the previous posts will still be available on this site, I will begin publishing on the new blog this week. You will keep receiving notifications of the new posts by email. The physical aspect of the blog will change but its scope and spirit will still be about the Techniques, History, Stories and Lies of Mosaic Art !
In January 2016 I received through Facebook Messenger a message from Turkey. The author was offering to sell me a mosaic - supposedly excavated from the area of Hatay Antakya (Ancient Antioch) - which had been discarded by the archaeologists. The offer came with pictures.
Screenshot messenger offer
When I saw how beautiful the mosaic was I could not believe anybody with common sense could have discarded it !
Mosaic offered to me through Messenger
I quickly suspected this piece had been stolen.
I tried to engage the man trying to sell this piece. He answered to me in Italian and suggested I get in touch with him though a WhatsApp telephone number.
Messenger Communication
In the meantime a search for "Roman Mosaic of Syria" brought up the description of the actual mosaic in the book "Mosaics of the Greek and Roman World" by Katherine M.D.Dunbabin.
Thetys from Shahba Museum
To Balty’s later group (of mosaics) from Shahba belongs an astonishing bust of the Sea-Goddess Tethys... Fish entangled in her hair, a sea dragon coiled around her neck, and she holds a steering oar. The figure of the Sea Goddess occurs frequently on mosaics of the region of Antioch, but never with the power shown here: almost to large for the frame, the figure dominates the small room where it is set. The characteristics of the «Constantinian renascence» are apparent in the broad smooth surfaces and the careful delineation, for instance of the wide opened eyes; but the combination of the massive force of the face and the restlessness of the dark hair makes this work of exceptional quality. Around it, a wide border shows Erotes in boats and fishing, on a sea marked by broad bands of colour.
From there I was able to find professional pictures of the mosaic and confirmed the piece had actually been looted from the museum.
Thetys mosaic stolen from the Shahba Museum in Syria
Detail of the stolen Thetys mosaic.
CBS News' article Following the trail of Syria's looted history describes how artifacts looted by ISIS or under the authority of ISIS regularly end up on the antiquities markets in London, Paris or even New York.
I went to the FBI website to report this matter and have not heard anything about it.
I am a French mosaicist
living in Headland, Alabama, USA.
My Art is about inspiring people.
You can see some of my work
at www.mosaicblues.com
Many mosaics are mounted on plywood, a material easily cut and shaped. However wood can warp and deteriorate with humidity; which is why I mount most of pieces on cement backing boards reinforced by a wooden frame in the manner of the framed canvas used by painters.
This technique, which I describe below, allows for lightweight and resistant boards. Material needed :
Once you have measured your mosaic, create a support 1/4" bigger in each dimension. If your mosaic measures 20 x 30 inch, your board should be 20.25 x 30.25 inch.
Cut your wood boards to fit these dimensions.
If you are using 1 x 2 inch boards, which actually measure 0.75 x 1.5 inch (Welcome to America), you will cut 2 boards at 20.25 inch and 2 boards at 27.25 inch (30.25 - 2 x 1.5 = 27.25). You will adjust based on the actual dimensions...
If your mosaic is bigger than 3 square foot, I recommend to use additional boards as I did on this frame.
Once all your cuts are made, assemble the wood and cement board with wood glue and screws, let the glue set, et voila !
The whole process is described in the video.
Notes :
Cement board : 1/4" Hardiebacdker is the best board I could easily find in the US. In Europe, I use Wedi Boards a much better product, just as strong and much lighter. But it is more expensive and difficult to procure in the US.
Cutting the cement board : If you do not have a circular saw, you can use a scorer to mark and
snap the Hardie board. This is the method recommended by the
manufacturer. However, I prefer the clean cut made by the saw.
Wood boards : I use 1 x 2" yellow pine for most of my mosaics. I have used heavier lumber for bigger mosaics (1 x 3 or 1 x 4. If your mosaic is installed outdoor, you should use treated lumber.
Wood Glue : it is important to not just use screws. The wood glue creates a very strong bond between concrete and wood, which is what we are trying to achieve.
Last week I wrote about the portrait of Lane and Ella.
Mosaic Portrait of Lane and Ella
Aaron had commissioned this mosaic in 2013 as a Mother's day present for Natalie.
Today, I would like you to meet their parents Natalie and Aaron. Natalie commissioned this portrait in 2016 for their 10th anniversary !
Mosaic portrait of Natalie and Aaron
I have known Natalie and Aaron for close to 20 years when the 3 of us where practicing Karate. Being myself in Auburn to judge a testing last week end they invited me to share their meal (Great cooking, they raise their own chickens and grow vegetables in their yard, just like I do in Headland !) and our friend Julie (the Deer Hunter) took this great picture of the three of us under the mosaic !
