The History of the NTMA

1500’s

Friuli region in Italy-the beginning of the “modern” terrazzo era. Terrazzo was created when resourceful Venetian mosaic workers discovered a way to reuse marble remnants; with off-size chips, they began to build terraces around their living quarters.

Techniques for leveling these surfaces progressed from rubbing with a stone by hand, to the development of a long-handled, weighted grinding stone, called a galera.

The first sealer for terrazzo was discovered when workers noticed that a coating of goat milk brought out the rich colors and sheen of the marble.

1890

By 1890, all the mosaic workers in the US were Italians who picked up their trade in Venice. They came from: Sequals, Toppo, Tauriano (e.g. Trevisan, Bertin, Patrizio, Martina, Cristofoli, De Paoli, Pasquali, Pellarin, Carnera); Fanna, Cavasso Nuovo, Arba, Frisanco (e.g. Filippi, Roman, D’Agnolo, De Marco, Lovisa, Maraldo, Serena, Di Pol, De Spirt, Marus, Andreuzzi, Mion, Franceschina).

1900

Most of these mosaic and terrazzo workers started businesses of their own:

First in New York, Philadelphia, Boston;

Later in the Midwestern states, in Washington D.C. and San Francisco;

Finally in the states of the South and West.

They became paradigms of self-made businessmen and built a powerful network of firms

1920’s Yearbook Covers

1920’s

In the early 1920s terrazzo overtook mosaic in popularity and became a popular flooring material for public buildings and apartment buildings.

Huge request for terrazzo workers, instead of mosaic workers.

The introduction of the electric grinding machine around 1919 influenced the spread of terrazzo all over the US.

1923

National Terrazzo and Mosaic Contractors Association formed in Chicago, Illinois by Gus Cassini of Rock Island, Illinois. The name changes to The National Terrazzo and Mosaic Association in 1929, when the group first allows supplier members.

29 terrazzo / mosaic companies

1924

The first annual NTMA convention is held February 23-25 at the La Salle hotel in Chicago with 25 contractor members.

1928

1930’s Yearbook Covers

1920’s and 1930’s

Between the 1920’s and 1930’s, Americans recognized the contribution of terrazzo and mosaic companies to US architecture and the building sector.

Terrazzo and mosaic companies were expanding an artisanal craft whose roots dated back to 16th century Venice.

“I have recognized the fact the art in which you are interested has a wonderful history, that it includes the efforts of well known leading artists, particularly the mosaic end of it, and I realize that in some of our most beautiful office buildings you have added the charm of terrazzo work…So that your art, in going back to the days of the ancients and carried forward throughout the modern times, is one which you can very well indeed feel proud of” (Detroit Councilman, 1929)

1931

Marriage of Linda Pellarin, daughter of John Pellarin from the Pellarin & Co. of St. Louis, and August Cozzi, son of Pete Cozzi from the Tulsa Terrazzo Mosaic Co. of Tulsa, 1931

1932

“Although a member of the Terrazzo Association, I must admit that I am not a terrazzo man. At that, I don’t see how I can be blamed if my ancestors do not hail from Cavasso Nuovo, Fanna or Sequals in Northern Italy.”

(Architect A. Reed Wilson, The Art of Mosaics and Terrazzo, 1931)

1938

1940’s Yearbook Covers

1940’s

During World War II, NTMA membership dropped. Nevertheless, terrazzo was still widely used in war factories, and on Army and Navy bases In the early 1940s, 6,500,000 sq. ft. of terrazzo was installed in the Pentagon by Roman Mosaic & Tile Co. from Philadelphia, and by Columbia Mosaic & Tile Co. from Maryland

• Strong growth of the terrazzo industry after the end of W. W. II
• Labor shortage problem for both mechanics and helpers
• NTMA officials suggested that terrazzo companies import labor force from Italy, looking for “the people who have terrazzo in their blood”

1946

Universal Atlas

1947

200 terrazzo / mosaic companies

In 1947, however, there were 150 other terrazzo and mosaic companies operating throughout the US who did not belong to the NTMA

1948

Advance Grinders

1950’s Yearbook Covers

1951

Advance Grinders

1953

1959

CIBA Epoxy, Willingham

1960’s Yearbook Covers

1962

According to 1962 NTMA membership list:

• Terrazzo companies spread across the country, finally setting up shop in Southern states (36 firms in Florida, 22 in California, 19 in Texas);
• For many firms that were established in the 1920s and 1930s, the second generation began to take control;
• Most of the NTMA terrazzo companies also did tile work.

1963

The National Terrazzo & Mosaic Association, Inc.

1964

American Terrazzo Strip

1965

Universal Atlas Map

1966

1966 NTMA Convention in New Orleans

1968

Terrazzo Promotion Advertisement, Atlas White

1969

Monile Roman, Terrazzo

1970’s Yearbook Covers

1971

1971 NTMA Convention in Indianapolis

1974

Shoes

1975

Terrazzo

1976

Universal Atlas

1979

Atlas Lion

1980’s Yearbook Covers

1981

Cactus Canyon

1990’s Yearbook Covers

2000’s Yearbook Covers

2010’s Yearbook Covers

2020’s Yearbook Covers

2023

The NTMA celebrates its 100 Year Anniversary.

How Stuff Works: Terrazzo