In 2003 Franco Magnani, the artist, took a trip to Pontito, Italy, to prepare for an art exhibit.  He discovered a stack of terracotta roof tiles that had been stored, in the barn of his home, by his mother, approximately 50 years ago, when she had her roof replaced on their home.

Franco heard from the old people that lived in Pontito for many years, that the roof tiles were manufactured about 300 to 400 years ago, by hand, by a company, located in Pontito, owned by the Tomburri family, named La-Fornace. When the owner of  La - Fornace got sick, he was unable to continue running his company and had to close it.

Franco was excited with his discovery and had an idea to put paintings on the tile with scenes of Pontito. Franco crated 24 tiles and sent them to his home in the United States, some broke in shipment.  Eleven tiles are ready for sale with scenes of Pontito landscapes and others with wonderful old doors, all different on each tile.

Something was needed to mount the tile on so Franco made a beautiful backboard from ¾ inch plywood, laminated it with ¼ inch oak and put an inlaid border, of four different kinds of wood.