An Improved Manufacture of Mosaics.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 17th Dec., 1898
An Improved Manufacture of Mosaics.
I, THEOPHIL PFISTER, of 5, 6 & 7, Lensden Place, Golden Lane, in the County
of London, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
In the construction of mosaics as heretofore practised difficulties arise in
obtaining the desired smooth face to the work, and in holding the pieces of
mineral substances in their proper relative positions in accordance with the
pattern; mosaics have consequently been expensive to produce and often lacking
in artistic excellence.
By my present invention I provide a novel construction of mosaic having a
smooth surface, and I facilitate the arrangement of the pieces of mineral sub-
stances according to the pattern, as well as the removal of the mosaic from the
bed upon which it is formed to the place it is to permanently occupy, and
thereby overcome the objections to the methods of manufacture heretofore in use.
According to my invention the mosaic is constructed with a face of tiny
mineral particles resembling beads without holes, (blind beads) cemented together
by a suitable hardening cement. I form the mosaic upon a plate or bed which
may be of glass having a smooth surface either plane or curved according to the
required shape of the finished mosaic. To prevent sticking and to facilitate the
stripping of the mosaic I prefer to cover the bed with a thin sheet of transparent
paper, tracing cloth or the like upon which the mosaic is formed. The design
or pattern to be copied may be drawn on the aforesaid paper or the like or if a
glass bed plate is used, it may be drawn on another sheet of paper placed under
the bed plate.
Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view, and Figure 2 is a section
on the line x, x Fig. of a mosaic illustrating my method of construction, por-
tions of the mosaic being filled in. The cement backing is omitted in Fig. 1.
A is a plate of glass or other material having a smooth surface upon which a
sheet of transparent paper B having the design drawn on it is laid. It is
advantageous to use thin, smooth transparent paper or cloth and to fasten it to
the bed plate by gum arabic or the like.
The outlines of the design are made up advantageously by metal strips C bent,
cut, cast or stamped out, or by drawn tubing cut into suitable lengths, and bent
to the desired shape and fastened to the surface of the paper by paste, glue or
other suitable material, or by beads or the like threaded upon a suitable thread
or wire, and after the outlines of the design have thus been formed a layer of
blind beads is filled in between the strips or bars C and packed closely together
on the surface of the paper the colours and arrangement being made in accord-
ance with the pattern.
When the whole of the pattern and the background has been thus copied or
any desired section of the same, cement or other adhesive material E is poured
or spread upon the back of the mosaic and worked in between the mineral par-

page_text: ticles sufficiently to firmly unite such particles together. I use by preference
cements of different colours in accordance with the colours of the beads in the
different parts of the design. After the comenting material has set, the slab of
mosaic is removed with the paper from the base plate, the detachment being
facilitated by softening the adhesive material that holds the sheet of paper to
the base plate. Where Canada balsam has been made use of, the separation
can be easily effected by sufficient warmth to melt the adhesive material and if
gum arabic is used the softening can be effected by placing the slab in a water
bath. The backing cement works between the mineral particles, but it does not
stick to the paper or cloth and hence the latter can be very readily detached
from the face of the mosaic after the cement has set by a suitable solvent to
soften the glue or paste by which the strips are fastened to the paper. Usually
it is sufficient to place the mosaic in. a water bath, whereupon the paper floats off.
The mosaic thus formed may be permanently affixed to the wall, ceiling, floor
or other, support, in, any suitable manner, and in order that it may be very firmly
secured to the plaster of the wall, floor or ceiling, I make the back of: it rough
preferably by sprinkling coarser pieces of glass or other suitable mineral sub-
stance upon the cement while still soft and partially embedding the same.
face of the mosaic may be polished more or less if desired and may be varnished
or glazed to prevent the metal strips from tarnishing. Usually however no
polishing is required.
The
By the above described mode of manufacture, the most perfect and, beautiful
mosaics can be rapidly produced, and, at little expense, and the same
can be
further enriched by combining gold leaf or other leaf, metal with the particles.
When I use tubular strips or bars C I prefer them to be rectangular in section.
In some instances I dispense with the strips C, the process or method being in
other respects the same as when the dividing strips are used.
I find it convenient sometimes to use a cement made of fish glue or isinglass
to which is added a quantity of bi-chromate of potash for glueing the particles
together, and a separate backing cement to complete the panel or slab. A suit-
able proportion is three parts of fish glue to one part of bi-chromate of potash.
This glue when warmed a little admits of the mosaic being readily stripped from
the plate by means of a thin blade inserted between it and the plate. The
stripping may be effected either before or after the addition of the backing
cement. In this case it will be necessary to protect the face of the mosaic by a
suitable varnish, for example French varnish slightly diluted with alcohol, to
prevent the deleterious action of moisture on the glue, and also to prevent the
tarnishing of the strips when such are used. Or I may slightly vary this method
as follows: the blind beads or granular particles are sprinkled over the paper
on the foundation plate in accordance with the design and a mixture of
bi-chromate of potash, and fish glue is poured over the same. The work is then
dried in an oven for example and after the glue has set is laid in water and the
sheet of glass stripped off. A mould of cement is then prepared, and the work
is pressed into the cement, and when dry the paper is rubbed off. This is
especially advantageous for wall and ceiling decoration, as the cement may be
put on the wall, or ceiling, and the mosaic pressed into it, in squares, or any other
desirable shape; when set, the paper may be rubbed off.
In some instances I may use a layer of wax on the bed plate in lieu of paper
or the like, but this method is not so good.
In making a large mosaic I sometimes glue small squares or pieces of glass of
a suitable size over the foundation plate and then proceed to apply the strips
according to the outline of the design by glueing them on the, small squares or
pieces, and afterwards fill in the mineral particles and the cement according to
the above described process. After the cement has set, the large sheet of glass
is first removed, and afterwards the small pieces. Naturally the small pieces
must be. glued only with a material which is not permanently adhesive. Large
slabs can be made in this way where otherwise there would be some risk of

page_text: breaking the bed plate when stripping off the work. Great care must be taken
that the small squares or pieces fit closely together, so that the metal strips may
stick evenly, and so that no ridges may be formed on the surface of the work.
According to a modification of my invention for decorating curved work such
as a vase for example, I proceed as follows, that is to say I cover the vase with
a thin layer of cement, and work the design into the cement by a thin pointed
instrument or otherwise, and then apply the strips forming the outlines when
such are to be used, and fill in the blind beads or granular particles according
to the colours of the design, and finish by varnishing or glazing the surface.
according to a slightly modified method I mark the outline of the design on the
then apply the strips if such are to be used, and cause the same to adhere
by a strong adhesive material, then varnish the whole surface, and apply the
granular particles in accordance with the colours of the design.
vase,
Or
In the manufacture of mosaic letters I sometimes proceed as follows, that is to
say, I fasten a metal outline letter on the paper on the foundation plate, and
then cover the paper with say gum arabic and pour the blind beads thereon and
allow the gum to set, after which I brush off the surplus blind beads and then
apply cement to the height of the letter. Before adding the cement I may orna-
ment the backing of the beads by bronzing, gilding or silvering the same. I then
put the plate in cold water and strip off the letter and paper. An ornamental
design may be produced in the same way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A mosaic panel or slab or the like, composed of a layer of blind beads, and
a backing of cement, with or without dividing strips, and with or without the
leaf metal ornamentation, substantially as set forth.
2. The employment of transparent paper, or tracing cloth or the like, in the
manufacture of the mosaic, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
3. The mosaic claimed in the first claiming clause, having its surface protected
by a varnish, or glaze, substantially as described.
4. Roughening the back of the herein described mosaic by pieces of glass or
other mineral substances embedded in the cement substantially as, and for the
purpose, specified.
5. The use in forming very large mosaics of a foundation plate or bed made up
of several small pieces, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
6. The methods of forming mosaics upon a plate covered with transparent
paper or tracing cloth or the like, by a layer of blind beads cemented by a back-
ing cement or by a mixture of fish glue and bichromate of potash, which is
further strengthened by a layer of cement, substantially as described.
7. The method of ornamenting a vase or like curved work by granular particles
applied on a cement backing, substantially as described.
8. A mosaic letter or ornament manufactured as hereindescribed.
Dated 041
Ր
1000
GEORGE HARRISON,
35, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, London, Agent for the Applicant.