{"id":122,"date":"2016-07-11T12:10:16","date_gmt":"2016-07-11T17:10:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.terrazzomasters.com\/?page_id=122"},"modified":"2016-08-30T14:25:42","modified_gmt":"2016-08-30T19:25:42","slug":"history-of-terrazzo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.terrazzomasters.com\/dev\/why-terrazzo\/history-of-terrazzo\/","title":{"rendered":"History of Terrazzo"},"content":{"rendered":"

Terrazzo descended directly from simplified forms of centuries-old styles of marble mosaics that were used in Venice by the mid-15th century. Today\u2019s highly evolved terrazzo is an environmentally friendly material that combines extraordinary design potential, optimum durability, and low maintenance. Not surprising, Terrazzo is the lowest cost flooring material available based on its long life cycle.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreen\u201d from the Beginning<\/h2>\n

Terrazzo was created when resourceful Venetian mosaic workers discovered a way to reuse marble remnants. With odd-size chips, they began to build terraces around their living quarters. Techniques for leveling these surfaces progressed from rubbing with a stone by hand, to the development of long-handled, weighted grinding stone, called a galera. The first sealer for terrazzo was discovered when workers noticed that a coating of goat milk brought out the rich colors and sheen of the marble.<\/p>\n

\"Grinding<\/p>\n

Grinding with Galeras<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The Immigration of an Industry<\/h2>\n

The terrazzo and mosaic industry in 16th century Italy was practically the monopoly of craftsmen from the Fruili region. This industry has remained remarkably intact, held by the families from this area through many generations and through the shifting of the entire industry to North America. The first terrazzo in the US was laid by Italian craftsmen in 1890 in the Vanderbilt residence on Fifth Avenue in New York. At that time, mosaics had also been recently introduced in the US, and were generally preferred over terrazzo. Then, between 1900 and 1915, three million Italians immigrated to the US. Terrazzo and mosaic workers, because their work was so highly skilled and valued, were regarded as the aristocracy of the immigrant labor force. The terazzeri, as these workers were called, were regarded as true artists; they jealously guarded the secrets of their craft, handing them down from father to son. These family businesses built a powerful network of firms that expanded the terrazzo trade, and dominated the market across the US.<\/p>\n

\"Terrazzo<\/p>\n

Terrazzo Grinders & Finishers…up to 1920. Source: NTMA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Terrazzo in the 1920s: Ready for Prime Time!<\/h2>\n

In the post-World War I era, Terrazzo became a flooring of choice in the US, suddenly overtaking and replacing the use of marble mosaics, for several reasons. Architects in the \u201820s were the first to recognize the vast design potential of terrazzo. For the smooth, curvilinear Art Deco\/Modern styles of the period, terrazzo happened to be the ideal medium. Furthermore, the invention of the electric grinder in 1924 brought about a finer finish, greater speed and accuracy, and lowered costs, all contributing to the spread of terrazzo across the US. Many of the country\u2019s most noteworthy buildings, stunning examples of classic design, craftsmanship and durability, were built with terrazzo, including the State Building, Radio City Music Hall and the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. Also in 1924, terrazzo and mosaic contractors from across the US banded together and created the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Contractors Association. Today, this collaborative group of artisan-craftsmen is known as the National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association, Inc.<\/p>\n

\"Terrazzo<\/p>\n

Terrazzo Grinders after 1920. Source: NTMA<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Divide and Conquer: Functional Beauty<\/h2>\n

Yet another mid-20s advance in terrazzo came with the availability of brass divider strips, which made possible the creation of highly artistic, intricate patterns and designs in terrazzo floors. From the early forms of terrazzo, divider strips, beginning with wood and evolving to marble along with zinc metal and even plastic, have allowed for expansion and contraction of the surface to prevent cracking. Today, terrazzo flooring continues to provide the ultimate in durability and low maintenance, design versatility and beauty, typically lasting the life of the building. The combination of unique beauty, durability, and low maintenance has led to a renaissance in the use of terrazzo over the past decade.<\/p>\n

\"SustainabilityBrochure-1\"<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

 <\/p>\n

Read NTMA’s “Life Cycle for a Lifetime”
\nSustainability Brochure (pdf) \u21d2<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n

Vintage\u00a0Terrazzo Catalogs<\/h2>\n

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