On April 26, UN Secretary-General António Guterres met with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Attention again attracted a 6-meter table.
Their meeting took place in the Kremlin . During it, the Russian president justified the unleashed war in Ukraine by the UN charter. The attention of the public was again attracted by the 6-meter table, at which the dictator usually meets with world leaders.
There were rumors that the giant gold table, about which Internet memes are already circulating on the Web, is used by Putin because of a panic fear of contracting COVID-19. The table was made in the best traditions of “expensive-rich”, and it turned out that in fact the table was not made specifically for Putin’s meetings with high-ranking officials during the pandemic.
Vladimir Putin and António Guterres / Associated Press
The table was created by the Italian entrepreneur Renato Polona 25 years ago. He told the Italian newspaper Corriere that an entire building in the Kremlin was furnished with his furniture. Renato heads Cantù. He saw a photo of his creation during a meeting between Putin and Macron in February 2022.
“I recognized it as soon as I saw it. I’m proud of it, I’m always excited when I see that my work is in the background of something important. I hope it will bring good luck against the war.”
The designer said that the table is six meters long and 2.60 wide. It is made from natural wood. The top is a unique piece, very difficult to handle, white lacquer with gold leaf profiles and handmade decorations on top. He also denied rumors that the table was specially purchased during the pandemic so that Putin would not worry that one of his counterparts could infect him.
Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron / Associated Press
“It might be useful for this purpose, but definitely the length has nothing to do with the pandemic. I did it 25 years ago!” says the designer.
Mr. Polonya said that this table is a small part of all the furniture that he made to order from the Kremlin in 1995-97. His furniture is also in the presidential residence.
“It was 7,000 square meters on two floors. There was this large hall with the famous photo of Putin and Macron, and then many other rooms, including the Catherine Hall, where one of the G8 meetings took place in 1997. It was a complete turnkey work. Furniture, floors, boiserie (decoration with wooden wall panels in architecture), all lighting cabinets, fireplaces, plaster ceilings, marble finishes on the walls…”, says the designer about his work. He does not remember how much this particular table costs, but today such work would cost about 100 thousand euros.
Vladimir Putin / Associated Press
During the interview, the designer was asked if he saw how many photo collages were created for this table, if he read comments on pictures in social networks.
“Yes, it’s really funny. I saw someone turn it into a swing, brilliant. Someone else put lap dance poles on it. They even turned it into a curling rink. At the moment, we can say that it is a table that develops creativity,” says Mr. Renato.
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