So here’s the thing. I arrange to meet Franco at his foundry in Pietrasanta. I turn up, a tall serous looking man and he sits me down in the boardroom. ‘What do you want’ written all over his face. I realised the assumption I had made as his pen was poised on a blank piece of paper. I was never going to meet him half way, my half was different to his. I explained I was curious about the process. He assumed I wanted him to teach me. I assured this wasn’t my intention. I asked if he would show me round. He said yes but just the once. This was fine by me and he took me into the four stages of making. I was joyous he not so. The finale was the patina tiles on the wall. He explained the need for recipes. I was hopping with excitement and best of all he let me take photos of the four panels of 99 Patinas. I showed him the little wax cast I had brought he reckoned 400 Euro’s to manifest it. I wish now he given me a quote on the business paper. I can return for that or email him. He opened the electric gate and I was back on the street. Maybe in the end we did meet half way as I had held onto my intent and manifested it. I was shown round a foundry in Pietrasanta nothing was different to Castle Foundry. The process was the same, how amazing is that the same process wherever you go and hasn’t changed for thousands of years.

99 tiles of magic.