tessera
/ˈtɛs(ə)rə
/noun (plural tesserae /ˈtɛs(ə)riː/)
1A small block of stone, tile, glass, or other material used in the construction of a mosaic: Roman remains including tesserae have been found...
- Glass was preferred because of its light-catching properties; the effect of glass tesserae in a mosaic is to create brilliance and richness through the changing effect of the refraction of light.
- The thinly painted, diaphanous rectangles, which achieve greater density of color where they overlap, function as simulacra of brushmarks or as tesserae in a mosaic.
- Mosaics can be made from any of a number of materials, from the traditional tessera and glass, to mundane materials such as stones and beads, to the unexpected bottle caps, nuts and bolts, and industrial cast-offs.
1.1(In ancient Greece and Rome) a small tablet of wood or bone used as a token.For centuries historians believed the tesserae had been worn by gladiators on a chain or cord around their necks....
- The tessera was recovered from the Ninfeo of Punta Epitaffio during the underwater excavation in the sea in front of Baia, which nowadays is a little town near Naples.
- Every corn-receiver was therefore now provided with a tessera, and this tessera, when once granted to him, became his property.
Derivatives
tesseral
- This material is made of VITREOUS clay in tesseral pieces representing the tessera; of the Roman mosaics.
- It has the same tesseral texture as the ceramic floor-tiles and is readily applied to wainscots and mantel-work.
Origin
Mid 17th century: via Latin from Greek, neuter of tesseres, variant of tessares 'four'.