Tessera, meaning 4, square, tile. Obviously, 4-square tiles are the easiest to make and fit together (and the way that your web browser tiles your screen!).
The Swiss mathematician Ludwig Schläfi showed that there are eight semiregular tessellations of a plane. See also the Islamic Tilings for a dazzling exploration of semiregular and related tilings, beautifully worked in ceramics.
The English mathematician Roger Penrose has devised some Aperiodic Tilings using a small set of regular tiles. These fill the plane but never repeat!
Incidentally, the name tessellation derives from the Greek Tessera, meaning 4, square, tile. Obviously, 4-square tiles are the easiest to make and fit together (and the way that your web browser tiles your screen!).
Tour
Next Section
Previous Section
Home
Links
Books
Bouquets
Guestbook
Index
All images and text (c) Ian Alexander 1996-2005
Please obtain my written permission for commercial use
