Sourcing original handmade mosaics from China

Mosaic classification, duty and material controls

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, heading 9701 covers mosaics alongside handmade paintings, collages and similar decorative plaques. The mosaic lines distinguish works by age. All carry 0% duty from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty and no listed suspensions. The table includes related decorative plaques for designs needing a separate classification check. Confirm the commodity code using photographs, materials, construction and age evidence.

The older mosaic lines attach ivory import controls and CITES controls. For ivory items intended for sale, confirm import eligibility and any applicable exemptions with APHA before shipment. Where an exemption certificate is required, receive it before selling. CITES-listed materials require the relevant permit; ask your customs broker to confirm the documents for the identified species and shipment from China. The tariff also lists cultural-object export licensing and, on older lines, ivory and CITES export controls. Confirm these before any later export.

There are no cultural-object import licensing requirements for Great Britain, although Chinese export permission may need checking. Confirm Northern Ireland requirements separately. Confirm with HMRC or your customs broker whether the artwork qualifies for reduced import VAT valuation and what effective rate applies before relying on it. See UK import duty and VAT. For the wider heading, see original mixed-media collages.

Specify the mosaic surface and backing

Agree the original design, overall dimensions, glass, stone or ceramic pieces, colour range, joint appearance, adhesive, grout, backing and frame. Approve a physical sample showing the surface relief and edge finish. Record acceptable handmade variation and whether the work is intended for indoor display, outdoor display or installation.

Ask for the maker's identity, process photographs and a written material list covering the mosaic, frame and backing. For older works, request provenance and an age assessment. For new consumer mosaics supplied in Great Britain, general product safety rules aim to ensure only safe products are supplied. Check sharp edges, detachable pieces and the suitability of the hanging arrangement.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order, not a quote: 200 small original handmade mosaic panels under 9701 92 00 00, invoiced at £6,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,000, so it is £1,400. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Design: compare the delivered composition, colours and piece placement with the approved sample and photographs.

Surface: check for loose pieces, chipped glass, exposed sharp edges, adhesive marks, grout cracks and staining.

Backing: check flatness, frame joints and hanging hardware; assess the assembled work against the agreed installation method.

Packing: check face protection, corner support and movement inside the package; photograph damage and retain detached pieces on arrival.

What goes wrong

A photograph can hide shallow joints, uneven backing or weak adhesion. Pieces detach during handling, grout cracks as the panel flexes, and packing rubs against raised surfaces. Approve the backing and packing with the artwork, then compare incoming goods with that sample before releasing them for sale.

A supplier's description of an item as original or antique may lack supporting records. Material substitutions can introduce ivory or protected species, while unsupported artwork claims make VAT treatment uncertain. Resolve discrepancies in provenance, materials and construction before shipment.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.