Pomegranate Branch Mosaic

The Fruit That Outlasted Empires

The pomegranate has been a sacred symbol across the Middle East for over three millennia — a sign of abundance, fertility, and the generosity of the earth. In Madaba, it has been rendered in stone for just as long. This piece carries that entire weight, one tesserae at a time.

The Design

This circular mosaic fills its cream-white field with a single, unhurried composition: a branching pomegranate tree in full fruit, its dark sinuous stems spreading freely from the center outward. Eleven pomegranates crowd the surface in varying stages — some whole and deeply red, some split open to reveal clusters of pale pink seeds rendered with quiet precision. The leaves are wide, flat, and rendered in blue-green and sage, lending the piece a richness that balances the boldness of the fruit. The overall effect is generous and alive, like a garden caught at its peak.

In Byzantine and broader Middle Eastern tradition, the pomegranate carried layered meaning. Its hundreds of seeds made it a near-universal symbol of abundance, blessing, and prosperity — appearing in ancient Jordanian, Hebrew, Persian, and Greek iconography alike. In early Christian art, the open pomegranate, with its seeds fully visible, was believed to represent resurrection and eternal life — the fruit that gives of itself completely. In a home, it has long been considered a sign of welcome and good fortune. This is not a decorative choice; it is a statement about what a home is for.

The border is a continuous braided interlace in gold, dark brown, and ivory — the classic Byzantine ribbon pattern seen throughout the great mosaic floors of Madaba's ancient churches. It frames the composition the way a gilded border frames an illuminated manuscript: with intention, and with care.

Specifications

✦ Dimensions: 20" H x 20" W x 1" D (50 x 50 x 2.5 cm)
✦ Weight: 2.76 lb
✦ Shape: Circular

What You're Getting

✦ 100% handmade — assembled stone by stone by Madaba artisans
✦ Natural stone tesserae — no plastic, resin, or machine-cut pieces
✦ One of a kind — slight natural variations in stone color are part of its authenticity
✦ Ready to hang — wall-hanging hardware included
✦ Carefully packed for safe international shipping

The Tradition Behind It

Madaba's artisans have been composing in stone since the city's Byzantine churches were built — and the pomegranate has been among their most constant subjects. The motif appears in excavated floors across the city dating back to the 6th century, which means the hands that made this piece are working in a lineage that stretches back fifteen hundred years. Owning it is less like buying art and more like inheriting something.

Each mosaic is unique. Dimensions and stone coloring may vary slightly from the photo shown.