Terrazzo is an interesting word with an ambiguous pronunciation (tr-aa-zow), and even if you don’t know what it is, you’ll likely recognize it as a floor or wall in a business or public building you’ve visited. In this blog, I’ll walk you through the history of terrazzo and how it has evolved over time to become a modern decorative art treasure.
The History of Terrazzo
Many years ago in ancient Egypt, the origin of terrazzo was born in the form of mosaics. Although historically this is first instance the world saw of terrazzo, modern-day terrazzo is directly inspired by “Venetian Pavement”, an invention of resourceful 15th century Italian mosaic artisans. This invention repurposed chippings and scraps of marble that were discarded during production to create affordable and sustainable flooring. Those scraps were laid on the floor, had concrete or clay binder poured over them, and were grinded down by hand using pumice stones. After grinding and polishing was finished, goats milk was applied to the floor, giving it a more saturated and finished appearance.
That sounds like a lot of work, right? That’s because it was– but the advancement of technology made the production of terrazzo easier over the years. A tool called a galera was invented shortly after, which was a long wooden handle with a weighted grinding stone on the end. Envision a broom handle with a rock strapped to the end, because that isn’t far off from what this was. However impractical, it was significantly easier than grinding the stone by hand, and made installation quicker.
Due to terrazzo’s unique appearance and the extensive amount of work it took to produce, it was an expensive commodity and mostly reserved for the wealthy. It was prominent in Italy, and seen in many churches, including the famous St. Peter’s Basilica. In 1890, terrazzo was installed for the first time in the United States at the Vanderbilt residence in New York City. Not long after, millions of Italians began immigrating to the United States, and with them came the “terazzeri,” who were expert terrazzo and mosaic artisans. This technique was passed down from generation to generation, and tightly guarded with the utmost secrecy. The demand for these workers quickly climbed, and the use of terrazzo spread like a wildfire across the United States. Some other famous installations of terrazzo can be found in the Radio City Music Hall, Hoover Dam, Empire State Building, Washington Monument, and the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
With this influx of popularity came better terrazzo-technology, including two pivotal inventions: the electric grinder and divider strips. The electric grinder was a groundbreaking invention, and reduced the labor needed to finish terrazzo flooring considerably. Divider strips were metal strips that allowed different mixtures to combine harmoniously on the same floor, and opened up infinite possibilities for design & art on floors.
Terrazzo Today
Today's terrazzo, while inheriting the traditional production process, incorporates elements of modern technology. Advanced production equipment and sophisticated processing technology have greatly improved the production efficiency of terrazzo, while ensuring the stability and consistency of product quality. In the production process of modern terrazzo, more environmentally friendly materials and adhesives are used, making the product more in line with the green and low-carbon environmental protection concept.
After learning its history, we can all agree that terrazzo is an incredible tile.With the continuous advancement of technology and the continuous improvement of people's aesthetic needs, terrazzo materials will continue to innovate and develop. In the future, we can expect more novel and unique terrazzo products to come out, bringing more surprises and possibilities to architecture and interior design.
If you are interested in terrazzo products or want to know more about the history, evolution and modern applications of terrazzo, please visit our official website. We will continue to launch new terrazzo products to provide you with better service and experience. Looking forward to your visit!
