Italy

The Angelo Orsoni Smalti and Golds for Mosaics Company in Venice has been setting the standard for mosaic smalti tiles since 1888. Four generations of Orsinis have been maintaining the high quality of the master Orsini. Smalti glass tiles have been around for over a thousand years. During the late 1800s, the tile mosaic art form enjoyed a revival. Angelo Orsoni's tiles were among the most sought after in the world and are still the standard by which all others are judged.

Molten glass gets its color in the oven from an old Orsoni family "recipe".

Glass strips are cut into tesserae, the small square or rectangular pieces of glass used in mosaics.

Slabs of glass are stored in shelves by color. Tesserae are stored in bins.