SINCE 1880, A LONG STORY IN THE NAME OF QUALITY AND TRADITION

In 1880 Giuseppe Porta, industrial producer of religious items in metalware from Milan, in love with the Verbano area where he used to spend his summer holidays, decided to move his business to Gemonio buying a water-mill (whose wheel is still preserved) built on a small river, the Viganella, useful for the production of the energy needed in the manufacturing processes.

In 1914 Pietro Felli, coming back from US where he had gathered a small fortune thanks to his skills as stone-cutter, along with his associate, Isidoro Bodini, takes over Porta’s company creating Felli & Bodini Arredi Sacri di Metallo (religious items in metalware).
He extends the structure adding a casting house which will soon employ up to 15 workers, all skilled craftsmen specialized in metal works and almost all smart chisellers.

In 1937 Pietro Felli passes away, leaving the company to his sons Alfredo and Tullio, this last one inherited the ability of design and chiselling from his father and continued the tradition.
Tullio prematurely dies in 1942 in his early thirties, leaving his company share to his wife Teresita and his daughter Franca at the time only 9 years old, who will only join the company in 1961; in the meantime the company is run by Alfredo Felli. Partner Bodini retires in 1947, leaving his share to the Felli family which becomes sole owner of the company.
In 1950 Alfredo decides to retire too and leaves the leadership role to his son Luciano Felli.

In 1954 Franca Felli, marries entrepreneur Paolo Fraschini , with whom in 1961 she acquires all the shares from her cousin Luciano, becoming the unique and sole owners of the company.

In 1962 Vatican Council II, with the revision and changes of Church Liturgies, leads to the complete omission of some liturgical items or to their radical simplification, sensibly changing market trends and product.
Some historical producers of religious items in metalware, like Bertarelli in Milan, are forced to close.

Far-sighted Paolo Fraschini understands the historical importance of the company’s equipments and decides to take over a substantial part of the moulds dating back to XVIII Century in order to preserve this inheritance, preventing its destruction.

In this way he adds to the regular development and production of modern items, the production of semi-antique items, i.e. the reproduction of antique objects made with the acquired moulds, which are still used nowadays.

Paolo Fraschini’s entrepreneur’s skills bring a modernization of the production capacities and consequently a growth in the distribution markets , making the Felli brand name renown all over the world. This development proves the old production plants to be inadequate and in 1966 the old buildings are thorn down to build a new bigger plant equipped with the best available technologies.

In 1978 his son Antonio Fraschini joins the managing staff of the company, he grows fond of the product and he understands that the mere production capacity is not enough to guarantee the continuity and prosperity of the company if not supported by adequate marketing and product development strategies.

Gifted with a special taste for beauty and aesthetic and helped by his wife Cinzia Giannoni, he updates production giving a new style and elegance to the complete line.
Thanks to the involvement and support given by his wife Cinzia, both the product and the Felli brand name are more and more appreciated and affirmed in the market.

In 1992, at the time of his father’s death, Antonio Fraschini becomes managing director of Felli Spa. Sadly he prematurely dies in December 2006.
His wife Cinzia Giannoni, supported by her mother in law Franca Felli, determined in continuing the long tradition which marked the historical company, becomes president in 2007 in the name of quality and respect of the Catholic Liturgy.