Italy's Contribution to the study of mosaic : II: classification standards of ornamental decoration

The paper aims to introduce the study and classification system of mosaic ornamental decoration. Due to the fact that figured motifs could not be classified, they are not included in this presentation, which concerns geometrical and vegetal patterns. On one hand, the book Le décor géométrique de la mosaïque romaine. Tome 1, Répertoire graphique et descriptif des compositions linéaires et isotropes, published in 1985, established the ground to catalogue all geometrical forms of mosaic floor decorations. In fact, it provided linguistic and logical descriptive analysis and formal classification of the majority of existing motifs of bands and surfaces. Tome I displays iterative patterns, instead Tome II (Décor géométrique de la mosaïque romaine. Tome 2, Répertoire graphique et descriptif des décors centrés, 2002) collects the concetric patterns. On the other hand, the Italian experience studying mosaics - taking advantage of the two Répertoires - has been contributing to clarify the story of single decoration motif and its variations along the Centuries and the Countries. Especially, two scientific contexts have to be mentioned: the Italian Association for the Study and Preservaion of Mosaics (AISCOM) and the Tess Project, a computer system of cataloguing mosaics. Articles and books published thanks to both these experiences light up the useful of a classification of ornamental motifs in the advancement of knowledge of antique mosaics.