tesserae
Small colored cubes
Tesserae are the small pieces—usually squares of stone, glass, or tile—used to create mosaics.
Each tessera fits alongside others to form larger patterns or images.
The singular is tessera: Each tessera was placed by hand.
The word appears mainly in discussions of ancient Roman floors and walls or contemporary mosaic art.
Numbered artistic creation
- groutTile joint filler
- pictorialRelating to pictures
- geometricRelating to mathematical shapes
- intricateElaborately detailed, many parts
assemblage · ornamental · decorative · craftsmanship · ceramic · glasswork · marble · vitreous
Representative placeholder
- counterFlat service surface
- pieceA portion or segment
- markerSomething that signals location
- chipSmall broken-off piece
disc · gamepiece · tabletop · boardgame · strategy · placement · resource · victory points
opus
Numbered artistic creation
intricate · assemblage · ornamental · decorative · craftsmanship · ceramic · glasswork · marble · vitreous · polychrome
token
Representative placeholder
chip · disc · gamepiece · tabletop · boardgame · strategy · placement · resource · victory points · azul
archaeology
Study of physical remnants
- romanUpright letter style
- byzantineDauntingly intricate and devious
- excavationAct of unearthing
antiquity · artifacts · villa · domus · atrium · baths · temple · basilica · restoration · conservation
tesseraemosaic
Inlaid pictorial arrangement
tableau · mural · whole picture · composition · gestalt