Conservation of Mosaics: In Situ, in Buildings and in Museums

A mosaic structure is the result of a composite of materials and techniques of application. Knowledge of those elements helps in understanding processes of decay, both direct and indirect. In addition, mosaics form the surface of building structure, and as such constitute an interface between two environments. Therefore, their pathology is intrinsically linked to the interaction of a building with its dynamic environment. A major emphasis of this book is to review the decay, conservation and maintenance of mosaics within the context of the buildings they decorate. It is an essential purchase for all conservation students, artefact and architectural conservators, archaeologists, managers of cultural heritage sites and museum curators as well as providing useful information for architects and engineers working on a job involving mosaics.

This book provides a comprehensive review of mosaics tracing their history and also including modern mosaics. The mosaic heritage is shared amongst the archaeological, the built and the museum environments. These distinct contexts have characteristic problems and requirements, demanding specific curatorial and conservation responses. In order to address these distinct contexts, each major section in the book will have subsections describing issues specific to sites, buildings and museums. Conservation of Mosaics will identify all the pertinent issues, materials and methods in this field which will be supported by bibliographic citations to more detailed publications where relevant.


A mosaic structure is the result of a composite of materials and techniques of application. Knowledge of those elements helps in understanding processes of decay, both direct and indirect. In addition, mosaics form the surface of building structure, and as such constitute an interface between two environments. Therefore, their pathology is intrinsically linked to the interaction of a building with its dynamic environment. A major emphasis of this book is to review the decay, conservation and maintenance of mosaics within the context of the buildings they decorate. It is an essential purchase for all conservation students, artefact and architectural conservators, archaeologists, managers of cultural heritage sites and museum curators as well as providing useful information for architects and engineers working on a job involving mosaics.

This book provides a comprehensive review of mosaics tracing their history and also including modern mosaics. The mosaic heritage is shared amongst the archaeological, the built and the museum environments. These distinct contexts have characteristic problems and requirements, demanding specific curatorial and conservation responses. In order to address these distinct contexts, each major section in the book will have subsections describing issues specific to sites, buildings and museums. Conservation of Mosaics will identify all the pertinent issues, materials and methods in this field which will be supported by bibliographic citations to more detailed publications where relevant.