An artisan in our furniture decorating department works on the multi-layered landscapes that make up the diorama tabletop. The landscapes follow a general pattern, but are not meant to be exact copies; all of the painting is done freehand, so each table is a unique work of art.

There are four layers to the table. The sky is the bottom, and the final layer. The lake is the third; the fields are the second layer down; and the first layer has the trees, the barn, and the farm. Every little detail is inspired by the landscapes around us in Aurora, New York.

“I would say it takes me a total of 40 hours to paint the layers. You have to focus closely,” says Sanna, a master furniture decorator who has painted several Diorama Tables. “When painting, the sense of rhythm is very important. Balancing the creative side with the productive side creates a very intense focus.”