Red Travertine Il Collonato Dining Table attributed to Mario Bellini for Cassina, 1970s

Mario Bellini ‘Il Colonato’ table, red travertine, Italy, 1970s. For this series of tables, Bellini was inspired by ancient Roman columns. This table consists of four cylindrical legs and this model features a square tabletop. The red colored travertine shows beautiful veins. The soft white and light grey tones make an interesting addition to the deep red stone. Mario Bellini (1935) is trained as an architect and became one of the leading designers in Postwar Italian style. In the beginning of his career, he worked together with Olivetti and Cassina which resulted in an early knowledge of synthetic resins and polyurethanes. His furniture is exciting, both in its use of material as in the originality of his designs. Bellini did not believe in precise boundaries of design, instead, he designed for the relationship of man and environment. It is impossible to pigeon hole Bellini’s oeuvre, as his work is so complex and original.