Perdomo Mexican Smalti – Authentic Artisan Glass Mosaic from Mexico
Discover the unique smalti from the Perdomo family in Cuernavaca, Mexico – a distinctive glass mosaic that combines the centuries-old Murano tradition with Mexican raw materials and minerals. Since 1949, this family business has produced high-quality smalti using classic Italian methods, but with its own 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 started at the perfect time: during the heyday of Mexican muralists like Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. The family business not only produced the glass pieces but also created the impressive mosaic murals for these famous artists.
Today, the Perdomo family continues this artisanal tradition, producing both commercial tiles and artisanal smalti for public and private artworks worldwide.
What is Smalti?
Smalti is opaque glass colored with metal oxides. This material has been used in mosaic art since Byzantine times because of 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.
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 "pizzas"). These tortillas are cast thinner than their Italian counterparts – about 6mm instead of 9mm – resulting in a thinner final product.
2. Cutting with Hammer and Hardie
After cooling, the tortillas are cut vertically by hand with a hammer and hardie (a sturdy chisel set upright in a wooden block). This classic technique, used by mosaic makers for 2000 years, creates the characteristic piastrine tesserae with their facet-rich fracture surfaces.
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 processing, placing, and grouting significantly easier, especially for detailed work. The pieces are on average 5-7mm thick, making working more ergonomic and requiring less force when cutting or breaking.
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 Variations
The color variations you sometimes see on one side occur very naturally: after melting the glass, the oven is not completely cleaned. Residues from the previous melt remain and mix with the new color, creating unique shades and depth in the glass. This effect gives your work depth and liveliness without needing to mix different colors.
More Consistent Thickness
Compared to Italian smalti, Mexican smalti has a more consistent thickness, making it suitable for applications like floors and tables where an even surface is important.
Dimensions and Specifications
Perdomo smalti is delivered in piastrine form with the following characteristics:
- Size: about 12-15mm square
- Thickness: about 5-7mm
- Pieces per 50g: about 20 tesserae
- Coverage: about 1.5kg for an area of 30.5x30.5cm (with 10-15% cutting waste)
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. Please take this into account when ordering.
Working with Perdomo Smalti: Practical Tips
Cutting: Hammer & Hardie vs. 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 catch the light optimally:
- Hardie: A thick chisel fixed upside down in a heavy wooden block
- Hammer: For glass, 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 break through the glass
- Advantage: Most precise, creates the most beautiful facets, professional standard
Wheel Nipper (Modern & Practical)
A wheel nipper (such as Leponitt or other quality brands for glass mosaic) is a faster and more user-friendly alternative, especially for beginners and quick projects:
- Easier to learn than hammer & hardie
- Less physically demanding
- Suitable for cutting Perdomo smalti thanks to the thinner thickness
- Ideal for straight cuts and standard tesserae
Recommendation: For the best results when cutting Perdomo smalti, we recommend using a wheel nipper. Due to the thinner thickness of Mexican smalti, these are very suitable for this modern tool, which makes working significantly easier without compromising on quality.
Safety First
- Always wear safety glasses when cutting – glass shards can fly in all directions
- Work on a stable surface
- When using hammer & hardie: make sure your hardie is firmly fixed 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 suitable mosaic mortar or thinset for glass
- Studio work and small objects: PVA glue or silicone glue work well, depending on the substrate
- Indirect method on paper: water-soluble glue for temporary attachment on paper
Grouts
The irregular, hand-cut edges of smalti create expressive grout lines that are part of the character of your mosaic:
- Always test grout color first on a sample piece
- Use enough grout to fill the irregular edges
- Let the grout dry sufficiently, but definitely do not let it harden before cleaning your work. Depending on the ambient temperature, you can remove the excess grout after about 30 minutes.
- You can also leave the work ungrouted and play with a colored adhesive mortar that you see between your stones. This technique is mainly used for wall panels and artworks that are not touched.
Applications of Perdomo Smalti
Perdomo smalti is suitable for a wide range of applications:
- Art Mosaics: from contemporary abstract works to classical 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: suitable for horizontal applications thanks to consistent thickness
- Public artworks: Perdomo smalti has been used for large-scale installations worldwide, including airports and public buildings
- Restorations: for repairing historic mosaics or creating new works in classical style
Ordering and Color Consistency
Important: Batch differences
Because Perdomo smalti is entirely handcrafted and produced in batches, color differences between batches may occur. This is inherent to the manual production process and definitely not a defect!
Our advice:
- Order enough material for your entire project at once to ensure color consistency
- Allow for 10-15% extra for cutting loss and reserve material
- Keep leftovers well labeled with 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 shades, each with its own character:
- Primary colors: intense reds, blues, and yellows for powerful accents
- Earth 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 exposure
- Weather resistant: suitable for outdoor use in all climates
- Frost resistant: the glass withstands 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 glossier (the top of the 'tortilla'), while the other side shows more texture and subtle color variations. Both sides are fully 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 use an appropriate adhesive or mortar for outdoor use and ensure a solid, stable base.
How thick is Perdomo smalti compared to Italian smalti?
Perdomo smalti is generally thinner than classic Italian smalti. Where Italian smalti is often cast thicker (about 9mm) and then cut vertically into thinner slices, Mexican smalti is cast thinner from the start (about 6mm tortillas). The final product is about 5-7mm thick, making it easier to work with.
What tools do I need at minimum?
For Perdomo smalti, we recommend a wheeled nipper for glass mosaic (such as Leponitt, for example). This is the most practical tool for this thinner type of smalti. Additionally, you will need suitable glue or mortar, grout, and safety goggles.
How much smalti do I need for my project?
Estimate about 1.1-1.3kg for an area of approximately 30.5x30.5cm when pieces are placed directly next to each other without grout. With grout, you need slightly less. Always add 10-15% for cutting waste and repairs. For larger projects, it is wise to order extra for future maintenance.
Why do colors vary per batch?
Smalti is handcrafted using natural minerals and metal oxides. Small variations in composition, melting temperature, and cooling can cause subtle color differences between batches. This is an inherent feature of traditional handmade glass and contributes to the unique beauty of each piece.
The Fusion of Old and New World
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 and adapted this tradition over generations to local conditions and materials, resulting in a product that unites the best qualities of both worlds.
The collaboration between Italian expertise and Mexican craftsmanship has produced a unique glass product distinguished by its ease of handling, versatility, and beauty. Whether you are an experienced mosaic artist or just starting out, 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 a good wheeled nipper 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 benefits – a perfect choice for mosaic artists seeking quality and character in their materials.