Opus sectile

Opus sectile (Latin for " cut work" ) refers to a popular artistic technique in ancient Rome, were cut in various materials into pieces and placed in walls or floors to form in this way a picture or pattern. The starting material - marble, mother of pearl or glass - was cut into thin plates, polished and cut again in accordance with the design project. Unlike the mosaic, which consists of many small pieces of uniform size, the pieces are sectile at Opus much larger and may already represent a large part of the design.

Origin

Although early examples in Egypt and Asia Minor were found came the most prominent artifacts from the Rome of the 4th century. Thus, a large specimen of the Basilica of Junius Bassus Roman consul has been preserved, which is a chariot. The popularity of Opus sectile sat up in Rome in the 6th century continued and finally reached to Konstantin Opel (present-day Istanbul in Turkey).

Examples

Among the most important works in opus sectile technique is one of the gold glass table of Caesarea Maritima, which was in 2005 during excavations in an ostentatious villa on the outskirts of Caesarea Maritima found and dates back to the late Roman era. The frame of the mosaic is made up of gold and glass tiles from tiles of turquoise opaque glass, the midfield is made up of squares, triangles and narrow rectangles of glass, which combine to form a geometric pattern. The gold square glass plates have relief decorations and put crosses and rosettes dar.

Newer use

While the technique of Opus sectile in Rome finally disappeared, it was further used in the Byzantine churches, mainly in the floors. It was also cultivated by the Greeks that they might in the 12th century brought to Italy and Sicily.