Mozaic - Mosaic furniture custom-made in Indonesia

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Moroccan style mozaic furniture made in Indonesia Tucked away in South Jakarta you can discover a glimpse of Moroccan traditional-modern furniture. Mozaïc sells unique, one-of-a-kind home furnishings, made from ceramic mosaic tiles.

The Shop's Origins

The inspiration for Mozaïc came when designer Dalila Trehorel decided she wanted to recreate the atmosphere of her Moroccan homeland in her Jakarta home, so she asked a workman if he could make her a mosaic table. While his untrained results were unsatisfactory, this gave Ms. Dalila the idea to attempt to design mosaic furniture for expatriate and Indonesian homes herself.

Mozaïc is the creation of Indonesian owner Linawati Jahja and French-Moroccan Dalila Trehorel. When two heads are put together, any creation becomes a melding of ideas and talents - a creative mosaic of different inspirations. This is readily evident at Mozaïc where the traditional craft of mosaic blends Moroccan, French, Indonesian and other modern design influences to create unique home accessories.

Even the name of the shop represents a blending of cultures and ideas. Faced with the decision of what to name their shop, Lina and Dalila chose Mozaïc, which is a combination of spellings from 3 languages . the 'z' from Indonesian mozaik, the 'ï' from French mosaïque and the 'c' from English mosaic.

Traditional and Modern Designs

Those with a knowledge of Moroccan mosaic furniture can see traditional elements of Moroccan style in the curved Cs on the wrought iron legs on tables and chairs, in the blending of colors and the traditional zellige pattern in the mosaic table tops. Yet Mozaïc has gone beyond the traditional, introducing dramatic, modern designs.

Entering the shop, and walking through the displays of indoor and outdoor furniture and traditional Moroccan zellige mosaic tables accessories, you experience constant impressions of light and color. The wooden entrance into the shop is cut in a typical Moroccan door style. Arches lead you from room to room and recessed alcoves display small accent pieces throughout the shop.

Mozaïc has seating arrangements, with low sofas, coffee tables, end tables and cushioned stools. All pieces in the arrangements are coordinated with the same mosaic trimming set into wrought iron frames. Sofas and chairs are accessorized with pillows that match the intricate mosaic work.

The typical low tables of Arab origin, surrounded by comfortable plump pillows also catch many a shopper's eye. All sets are designed with comfort and socializing in mind, Moroccan-style!

Mozaïc patio furniture is popular, with garden fountains, patio tables and low, wide bowls which can be used for floating candles or flowers to set a festive, party mood on your patio. Mosaic tables with cushioned stools can give an informal, yet special feel to any room in the house. Small tables are perfect for displaying a potted plant or a treasured piece of art.

Complementing the furniture are a wide variety of styles of floor and table lamps, all set with mosaic tiles. Mosaic pots for plants, umbrella stands, wall shelves and mirrors provide dramatic accents for any décor. Mosaic vases provide dramatic accents by themselves or can be used for floral arrangements.

A Taste of Morocco

Very popular are the traditional Moroccan zellige mosaic tables, which use alternating patterns of glossy glazed tiles and unglazed terracotta tiles, adding a beautiful texture to the colorful design.

tajin from Morocco ... used ot serve food Ask the shop's staff to show you the tajin, a traditional serving dish used in Morocco. Family members sit around a low table with the tajin in the middle and serve themselves from it. Mozaïc sells a decorative version of tajin as a home accessory.

Also popular are traditional water ashtrays; ash slips down into a crack around the middle of the bowl and falls in the water. Butts are easily extinguished by lifting the lid and dropping them in the water. As a result, the room isn't overwhelmed by the smell of an overflowing ashtray.

How Mosaic is Made

The mosaic art form is thousands of years old, originating according to some scholars in 2300 BCE in Egypt. Mosaic spread with the Moor culture into Spain and throughout the Arab and Mediterranean world. In many Muslim countries the art form's popularity was due in part to Islamic restrictions against depicting animals or people. Mosaic, with its intricate geometric patterns, can be found decorating architectural forms throughout the Mediterranean, in homes, and on city gates, churches, mosques and mausoleums. Each culture has its own specific materials and style and uses mosaic for different decorative purposes.

Mosaic tiles are poured into molds or hand cut and glazed in the various colors that will be needed to create the intricate patterns on the furniture. Other pieces at Mozaïc are created with broken tiles, which create an irregular pattern.

Table tops, fountains and fishponds are first formed in reinforced cement for durability and strength. Then the base is covered in a special cement that holds the mosaic tiles as they are pressed in one by one. The final step is the filling in of grout around the tiles. The tabletops are then set into a wrought iron or wood frame.

Special Orders

Mozaïc will make items to order if the size or color of the furniture on display doesn't match your household décor. All that is needed is an idea of the design you would like, the size and shape of the piece and the colors that will best complement the room. Shells, starfish, fish and geometric patterns are commonly used, but Mozaïc is ready to attempt custom designs required by customers.

An in-home consultation can be arranged to determine the pieces which will best provide finishing touches to your home. Mozaïc can custom-design an entire kitchen or bathroom including mosaic basins, mosaic mirrors and inlaid wall or counter tiles.

A visit to Mozaïc gives Jakartans a glimpse into Moroccan culture and lifestyle. After being there you can almost imagine a typical Moroccan family, sitting around a low table for a meal or comfortably ensconced upon their sofa socializing with family and friends. Even better, you can take these tables home and produce a similar feel in your own home.

Mozaïc
Jl. Cipete Raya No. 50C
Cipete, Jakarta Selatan
Indonesia 12410

by Danielle Surkatty
Photos by Jan Dekker
First published in Jakarta Kini, a publication of Indo Multi Media, March 2002.

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