Mario Bellini La Basilica Dining Table for Cassina

Every great table has a story, but few can match this one. The La Basilica was designed by Mario Bellini for Cassina in 1976 — and this particular example was purchased by the American dancer and choreographer William Forsythe from his first salary as a choreographer in Germany. When we collected the table from St. Moritz, Switzerland, Forsythe's daughter shared the story of her father and the table that witnessed decades of family moments.

The design is architectural in the truest sense. A generous rectangular tabletop in solid ash wood rests on two sculptural pedestals that evoke the grandeur and symmetry of a basilica — the inspiration Bellini drew upon when shaping these extraordinary legs. The ash has a tactile warmth and a straight, honest grain that allows the architectural form to speak without distraction. At 225 centimetres long, it comfortably seats eight.

This example is in good condition with the kind of natural patina that fifty years of family life produces. The ash has mellowed and deepened, gaining character that no finish could replicate.

Mario Bellini is one of the most decorated Italian designers of the twentieth century — a Compasso d'Oro winner, MoMA permanent collection regular, and the architect behind some of Milan's most important buildings. His furniture for Cassina, including the Cab chair and the Le Bambole sofa, redefined what Italian design could be. The La Basilica sits comfortably among his masterworks.

This is not merely a dining table — it is a piece of design history with a provenance that connects Italian craftsmanship, German performing arts, and Swiss alpine life. The kind of object that makes a room and its conversations richer.