Perdomo Mexican Smalti – Authentic Handcrafted Glass Mosaic from Mexico
Discover the extraordinary smalti from the Perdomo family in Cuernavaca, Mexico – a unique glass mosaic that combines the centuries-old Murano tradition with Mexican raw materials and minerals. Since 1949, this family business has been producing high-quality smalti using classic Italian methods, but with a unique character that makes this Mexican smalti a favorite choice for mosaic artists worldwide.
The History of Perdomo Smalti
In 1949, Elpidio Perdomo founded MOSAICOS VENECIANOS DE MÉXICO, the first glass mosaic factory in North and South America. With recipes from Spilimbergo, Italy, the Perdomo family began at the perfect time: during the heyday of Mexican muralists such as Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The family business not only produced the glass tiles but also created the imposing mosaic murals for these famous artists.
Today, the Perdomo family continues this artisanal tradition, producing both commercial tiles and artistic smalti for public and private artworks all over the world.
What is Smalti?
Smalti is opaque glass that is colored with metal oxides. This material has been used in mosaic art since the Byzantine era due to its intense colors, rich light reflection, and durability. Unlike glass tiles, smalti has a characteristic matte to silky sheen and a vibrant appearance that changes with the light.
The term piastrine refers to the way smalti is cut: into flat, hand-cut pieces that have an irregular, facet-rich texture. These fractured surfaces catch and reflect light in a unique way, bringing mosaics to life from both a distance and up close.
The Unique Production Process of Perdomo Smalti
Perdomo smalti is made according to traditional Murano methods, but with local ingredients and minerals that give the glass its own character:
1. Pouring into 'Tortillas'
The molten glass is poured into flat discs called 'tortillas' in Mexico (in Italy, they are called 'pizzas'). These tortillas are poured thinner than their Italian counterparts – about 6mm (¼ inch) instead of 9mm (⅜ inch) – which results in a thinner finished product.
2. Vertical Cutting with Hammer and Hardie
After cooling, the tortillas are vertically hand-cut with a hammer and hardie (a sturdy chisel set upright in a wooden block). This classic technique, used by mosaic artists for 2000 years, creates the characteristic piastrine tesserae with their facet-rich fractured surfaces.
The vertical cutting of the tortilla means the inside of the glass is exposed – a surface rich in color variations, air bubbles, and texture that define the beauty of smalti.
Why Choose Perdomo Mexican Smalti?
Thinner and More User-Friendly
The biggest practical advantage of Perdomo smalti is that it is thinner than Italian smalti. This makes cutting, setting, and grouting significantly easier, especially for detailed work. The pieces are on average 5-7mm thick, making the work more ergonomic and requiring less force when cutting.
Two Usable Sides
Mexican smalti offers a unique advantage: both sides are usable, each with its own character. One side is often smoother and shinier, while the other side shows more texture and subtle color variations. This gives you, as a mosaic artist, extra creative possibilities – you can flip pieces to achieve different nuances within the same color.
Natural Marbling and Color Shades
Due to the larger surface area of each hand-cut piece, a beautiful tonal shading is created within a single color. This marbling effect gives your work depth and vibrancy without you having to mix different colors.
More Consistent Thickness
Compared to some Italian smalti, Mexican smalti has a more consistent thickness, which makes it suitable for applications such as floors and tables where a uniform surface is important.
Dimensions and Specifications
Perdomo smalti is delivered in piastrine form with the following characteristics:
- Size: approximately 12-15mm square (circa ⅝ inch)
- Thickness: approximately 5-7mm (circa 3/16 inch)
- Pieces per pound: approximately 190-210 tesserae
- Coverage: approximately 2.5-3 pounds per square foot (with 10-15% spillage)
Please note: Because smalti is made entirely by hand, dimensions and colors can vary per piece and per batch. This is not a defect but a characteristic of artisanal glasswork. Plan for this when ordering.
Working with Perdomo Smalti: Practical Tips
Cutting: Hammer & Hardie vs. Wheeled Nippers
Hammer and Hardie (Traditional)
The hammer and hardie (martellina and tagliolo) are the classic tools for cutting smalti. This method gives you the most control and creates beautiful facets that optimally catch the light:
- Hardie: A thick chisel that is set upside down in a heavy wooden block
- Hammer: For glass, you use a carbide-tip hammer (widia). Carbide stays sharp much longer than steel when cutting glass
- Technique: Place the tessera on the hardie and tap it with the hammer to send a fracture through the glass
- Advantage: Most precise, creates the most beautiful facets, professional standard
Wheeled Nippers (Modern & Practical)
A wheeled nipper (such as Leponitt or other quality brands for glass mosaic) is a faster and more user-friendly alternative, especially for beginners and for quick projects:
- Easier to learn than hammer & hardie
- Less physically demanding
- Suitable for cutting Perdomo smalti thanks to its thinner thickness
- Ideal for straight cuts and standard tesserae
Recommendation: For the best results when cutting Perdomo smalti, we recommend using a wheeled nipper. Due to the thinner thickness of Mexican smalti, they are very suitable for this modern tool, which makes the work considerably easier without sacrificing quality.
Safety First
- Always wear safety glasses when cutting – glass shards can fly in all directions
- Work on a stable surface
- When using a hammer & hardie: ensure your hardie is firmly secured in a heavy wooden block
- Keep your workspace free of loose glass pieces
Adhesion and Glue
Your choice of adhesive depends on your application:
- Permanent installations (walls, floors, outdoor work): use a suitable mosaic mortar or thinset for glass
- Studio work and small objects: PVA glue or epoxy work well, depending on the substrate
- Indirect method: water-soluble glue for temporary adhesion to paper
Grouting
The irregular, hand-cut edges of smalti create expressive grout lines that are part of the character of your mosaic:
- Always test grout color on a test piece first
- Use enough grout to fill the irregular edges
- Work carefully to avoid damaging the shine of the glass
- Allow grout to cure sufficiently before polishing
Applications of Perdomo Smalti
Perdomo smalti is suitable for a wide range of applications:
- Art mosaics: from contemporary abstract works to classic figurative mosaics
- Icons and religious art: the rich colors and light reflection make smalti ideal for spiritual art
- Wall panels: both indoors and outdoors, for residential and commercial applications
- Floors and tables: thanks to the consistent thickness, suitable for horizontal applications
- Public artworks: Perdomo smalti has been used for large-scale installations worldwide, including airports and public buildings
- Restorations: for restoring historical mosaics or creating new works in a classical style
Ordering and Color Consistency
Important: Batch Variations
Because Perdomo smalti is produced entirely artisanally and in batches, color differences between batches can occur. This is inherent to the manual production process and not a defect.
Our advice:
- Order enough material for your entire project at once to ensure color consistency
- Calculate for 10-15% extra for cutting loss and reserve material
- Store remnants properly labeled with the batch number for future repairs
- Mix pieces from different parts of your stock to distribute subtle batch differences
The Color Palette
Perdomo offers an extensive color palette from vibrant to muted tones, each with its own character:
- Primary colors: intense reds, blues, and yellows for powerful accents
- Earthy tones: natural ochres, siennas, and umbers for organic compositions
- Cool tones: various blues, greens, and violets
- Warm tones: orange, coral, and terracotta shades
- Neutral colors: white, gray, beige, and black for balance and contrast
- Special finishes: gold smalti, cosmos, and iridescent variants for extra drama
Maintenance and Durability
One of the great advantages of smalti is its exceptional durability:
- Colorfastness: the colors are baked into the glass and do not fade from UV radiation
- Weather-resistant: suitable for outdoor use in all climates
- Frost-resistant: the glass is resistant to freeze-thaw cycles
- Easy maintenance: clean with neutral soap and water; avoid harsh chemicals
- Long-lasting beauty: mosaics thousands of years old show that smalti lasts for generations
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the two sides of Perdomo smalti?
One side is often smoother and shinier (the top of the 'tortilla'), while the other side shows more texture and subtle color variations (the inside where the glass was cut). Both sides are completely usable, and you can alternate them for extra depth in your work.
Can I use Perdomo smalti outdoors?
Absolutely! Smalti is naturally weather-resistant and is used worldwide for large outdoor projects. Just make sure to use a suitable outdoor glue or mortar and follow best practices for substrate preparation and sealing.
How thick is Perdomo smalti compared to Italian smalti?
Perdomo smalti is on average thinner than classic Italian smalti. Where Italian smalti is often poured thicker and then vertically cut into thinner slices, Mexican smalti is already poured thinner (about 6mm tortillas). The final product is approximately 5-7mm thick, which makes it easier to work with.
What tools do I minimally need?
For Perdomo smalti, we recommend a wheeled nipper for glass mosaic (like Leponitt). This is the most practical tool for this thinner type of smalti. You'll also need a suitable glue or mortar, grout, and safety glasses.
How much smalti do I need for my project?
Calculate approximately 2.5-3 pounds per square foot when pieces are placed directly next to each other without grout. With grout, you'll need a bit less. Always add 10-15% for cutting loss and repairs. For larger projects, it's wise to order extra for future maintenance.
Why do the colors vary by batch?
Smalti is made artisanally with natural minerals and metal oxides. Small variations in composition, melting temperature, and cooling can cause subtle color differences between batches. This is an inherent characteristic of traditional handmade glass and contributes to the unique beauty of each piece.
The Fusion of Old and New Worlds
What truly makes Perdomo Mexican smalti special is the fusion of Italian and Byzantine techniques with Mexican creativity and craftsmanship. The Perdomo family has refined this tradition for generations, adapting it to local conditions and materials, resulting in a product that unites the best properties of both worlds.
The collaboration between Italian knowledge and Mexican craftsmanship has yielded a unique glass product that stands out for its ease of use, versatility, and beauty. Whether you are an experienced mosaic artist or just starting, Perdomo smalti offers the quality and character needed to bring your artistic vision to life.
Ready to Get Started?
Start with a small selection of colors to get acquainted with the material. Experiment with both sides of the tesserae and discover how the light plays with the facets of the glass. Invest in good wheeled nippers for easy cutting, and don't forget to order enough for your project to ensure color consistency.
Perdomo Mexican smalti combines centuries-old craftsmanship with modern practical advantages – a perfect choice for mosaic makers who seek quality and character in their materials.