The designer of the long table in the Kremlin’s palace of Russian President Putin, who aroused ridicule among surfers, lives in Italy and was interviewed by an Italian newspaper and told about the table he designed as part of renovations in the presidential palace 25 years ago
The long table in the meeting room of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has become one of the topics discussed in the past week. An Italian craftsman who produced gold-plated furniture during renovations costing millions in the Kremlin – the official palace of the president in the capital Moscow, also produced the six-meter-long table in question.
Designer Renato Polonia from Italy, who built the famous giant table says it costs 100,000 euros. He rejected the report that Putin was sitting away from French President Emmanuel Macron because of the Corona virus and told the Italian newspaper Courier that it was built 25 years ago. German Chancellor Olaf Schultz arrived on Tuesday to meet with Putin as part of diplomatic attempts to cool the crisis, and he too was photographed again at the table at his other far end.
Yesterday it was German Chancellor Olaf Schultz who came to meet Putin as part of diplomatic attempts to cool the crisis, and was also photographed at the table. Despite the significance of the conversations, it was the table that perhaps attracted the most attention, surfers on social media quickly created from funny water about the huge distance between the two leaders, and the huge table. Polonia told the Italian newspaper that he was excited to see his work receive so much attention.
Putin in a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Schultz. Photo: Kremlin spokeswoman.
“I recognized the table as soon as I saw it,” he said. “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 brings good luck against the war.”
When asked about the memes, he said they actually made him laugh. “I saw someone turn it into a swing, someone else put dance poles on it, at this point you could say it’s a table that develops creativity,” Polonia told the Italian newspaper.
He explained that the table 
Putin in a meeting with Brazilian President Zaire Bolsonaro. Photo: Kremlin spokeswoman.
Is six meters long and two and a half meters wide (about 20 feet by 8.5 feet), made mostly of oak, and is completely unique. The designer called the piece ‘very challenging’ to handle, with the accents on the table made of gold leaf. The decorations from the top were also made by hand.
As you may recall, the Russian president was photographed having a meeting with his French counterpart Emanuel Macron, and his German counterpart Olaf Schultz, each sitting at both ends of the table.
When asked if it was built specifically for use during the plague, the designer dismissed things. “It may be useful for the purpose, but there is no doubt that it has nothing to do with the epidemic. I made it 25 years ago,” he said. He further noted that the table was just one part of a larger project entrusted to him, to design the interior of one of the Kremlin buildings from 1995 to 1997.
His company has designed furniture, floors, lighting, fireplaces, ceilings and marble wall finishes. When asked about the price per table, he said he received payment in Italian currency that was officially exchanged for euros in 2002, he said that the table in today’s terms, costs 100,000 euros.
The designer said the Kremlin was not his only luxury client. He said many were international, adding that he had done work for people in Arab countries, such as sheikhs and royal families and sultans. “At one point I received invitations from Gaddafi and Saddam’s family,” he said, but declined to provide any further information.