The History

A tale of two families (the Chini family, pronounced Keeney, and the Pecchioli family) would best explain the historical background of Franco Pecchioli, the company. In 1897, Galileo Chini, painter and ceramicist, opened the original fornace (ceramics factory) called L'Arte della Ceramica, in the village of Borgo San Lorenzo. He specialized in decorative stoneware vases with intricate glazes and bright colors. These high quality pieces soon began to have a profound effect on the style of Italian ceramics. Galileo then went on to become one of the most prolific painters in Italy throughout the early 1900s and the 1920s, during which time he was commissioned by the king of Siam to paint large scale frescos all around the royal palace. Then, during World War II, the ceramics factory was bombed out from US bombing raids and subsequently Pecchioli merged with Galileo Chini and financed the rebuilding and expansion of the company. Since then, the Chini and Pecchioli families have developed the business to what it is today, with the Chini's continuing the production methods, artistry and creativity and the Pecchioli's running the sales, marketing and finance side of the business.

Now, Franco Pecchioli is known throughout Italy as one of the finest manufacturers of tile anywhere. Orders are constantly coming in from all over Europe, Asia. Now with the relationship of Una Terra, INC. and Pecchioli, the USA, the islands of the Carribean, the Bahamas and Bermuda have access to this beautiful and unique Italian tile. Some of the US commercial projects for which they have supplied the tile include: The Renaissance Center subway station of Detroit, Buffalo subway station, the Buell Theater in Denver and a Thai and a Burger restaurant in Las Vegas and countless residential bathrooms, kitchen floors and backsplashes, fireplace surrounds, foyers and sun rooms have been installed around the country through Una Terra.