Moorish mosaics, also know as Zillij, are glazed and carved tile pieces arranged into complex geometries. The Moorish inherited this meticulous and labor-intensive technique from the Christians of the Byzantine Empire about 800 years ago. The crafting process is very elaborate ranging from quite physical to very skilled, surgical work. The main material used is a rare type of clay rock, which can only be found in the hill country surrounding the city of Fez, Morocco. Some of the characteristics that add to the undeniable beauty of these mosaic tile works include: great sturdiness, long durability, colors and designs don’t fade, and there is no visible grout in between individual pieces. The process of converting rock into mosaic masterpieces, adding a deep sense of character and virtue to so many architectural structures, takes about 8 to 12 weeks. This ancient way of making mosaics has remained unchanged for centuries. Once the clay rocks have been mined and delivered, an extraordinary chain of craftsmanship begins. The presence of master-craftsmen, workmen, and apprentices enables our artisans to be entirely self-sufficient in terms of production. The apprentices lay the foundation by converting raw material into workable squares. Once the rock has been grinded into fine clay, it is molded into squares of about 4”x 4”. What follows is the drying stage, in which the squares get sun dried and heated up in large ovens. The workmen make sure that the squares are cut right and dried properly. In addition, they mix different colors by hand, apply them on the squares, and stockpile them for further treatment. The master-craftsmen are mainly responsible for designing new patterns of mosaics and drawing them on paper. These highly respected men do the most difficult and prestigious work of carving and arranging pieces into whole designs. They are the ones that carry the title of ‘Le Mosaiste’ (‘mosaic tile setter’).