glass made specifically for mosaics. Silica is melted and sodium or potassium carbonate are added. Stabilizing elements are added to this mix (magnesium or lead) together with the coloring agents (metals). Smalto is valued for its bright clear surfaces, opacity and translucency and variety of colors. Comes in the shape of approx. 6" pancakes which thereafter are broken into tesserae.

smalti is characterized by its dazzling range of brilliant opaque colors. Smalti is prepared by adding crystalline material (corpo) and coloured material (anima) to the colourless or coloured fused glass. Smalti is literally available in thousands of colors, is a very stable glass, easy to cut and very durable.