Cattelan Italia Helix Coffee Table

The Cattelan Italia Helix Coffee Table is a sculptural glass-top coffee table with a looping Canaletto Walnut wood base — available in seven formats: one round (Ø120 cm), four squares (100×100, 120×120, 140×140, 160×160 cm), and two rectangular 200×106 cm variants distinguished by their base loop count (3-loop or 4-loop). All seven formats share an identical 38 cm height and a fixed material combination — Canaletto Walnut looping wood base and Clear Glass top — with no alternative finishes available. The base is formed from gracefully curved, interlocking looped wood elements; the number and arrangement of these loops varies by format. The square and round formats use a single compact loop cluster positioned centrally beneath the glass; the two 200×106 cm rectangular formats each use two separate base units positioned along the table's long axis, with the 3-loop variant using two lighter base units (4.70 kg each) and the 4-loop variant using two heavier units (6.00 kg each). At 200×106 cm the rectangular Helix is the largest format in the range and the only configuration where the dual-base arrangement creates a visually rhythmic, repeating pattern beneath the glass. Made in Italy by Cattelan Italia.

Key Features

• Looping Canaletto Walnut Base — Fixed: The base is Canaletto Walnut throughout all seven formats — there is no alternative wood species or finish option. Canaletto Walnut is characterised by its rich warm brown-amber tone, pronounced open grain, and natural figure, which is fully expressed in the curved, sculptural looping elements of the base. The looping form means the grain runs continuously around each curved element, creating a flowing, unbroken grain direction that reinforces the organic, fluid quality of the base's geometry.
• Fixed Clear Glass Top: The Clear Glass top is fixed across all seven formats — no alternative top finish is available. Full transparency is integral to the Helix's design: it allows the sculptural walnut base to be viewed in full from above, preserving the looping geometry as the table's primary visual element from all positions in the room. An opaque top would conceal the base entirely and reduce the Helix to a conventional table form.
• Seven Formats — One Height: All formats share 38 cm height. The four square formats (100 to 160 cm) and the round (Ø120 cm) use a single central base cluster. The two 200×106 cm rectangular formats use two separate base units — the 3-loop variant with two lighter clusters, and the 4-loop variant with two denser clusters — creating a dual-rhythm pattern beneath the elongated glass plane.
• 3-Loop vs 4-Loop Rectangular Variants: Both rectangular variants share the same 200×106 cm glass top and dual-base arrangement. The difference is in the base units: the 3-loop variant uses two smaller loop clusters (4.70 kg each, totalling 9.40 kg in base weight) and the 4-loop variant uses two larger loop clusters (6.00 kg each, totalling 12.00 kg in base weight). The 4-loop base produces a denser, more visually complex pattern beneath the glass; the 3-loop base is slightly lighter and airier. Total shipped weight is 84.40 kg (3-loop) vs 87.00 kg (4-loop).
• Square Format Range — 100 to 160 cm: The four square formats offer a progression from compact (100×100 cm, suited to smaller seating groups or as a secondary accent table) through standard (120×120 cm) and large (140×140 cm) to statement scale (160×160 cm, suited to large open-plan seating groups). All four use the same base parcel dimensions (13×50×42 cm, 6.00 kg) — the base unit is consistent across all four square formats, with only the glass top size increasing.
• Made in Italy — Cattelan Italia: Manufactured in Italy with precision joinery in Canaletto Walnut and tempered clear glass construction throughout.

Formats

Round Ø120 cm — the circular format creates an omnidirectional composition with no primary axis; the looping base beneath a round glass top reads as a centred, symmetric arrangement from all sides. The circular plan is the most spatially neutral of all Helix formats — it integrates equally well at the centre of a curved sectional, between opposing sofas, or in a room where no strong orthogonal geometry is established by the surrounding furniture. Square 100×100 cm — the smallest Helix format and the one where the base loop cluster occupies the largest proportion of the glass area when viewed from above; well suited as a secondary accent alongside a larger primary coffee table, or as a solo piece in a compact seating group. Square 120×120 cm — the mid-range square; the most proportionally balanced of the four square formats relative to a standard three-seat sofa grouping. Square 140×140 cm — suitable as a primary coffee table for a large seating group; at this scale the loop cluster below the glass appears more compact relative to the glass area, and the glass cantilevers more clearly beyond the base on all four sides. Square 160×160 cm — the largest square format and the heaviest single-base Helix at 91 kg total; at 160×160 cm the table becomes a dominant spatial element in the room, best suited to very large open-plan seating arrangements. Rectangular 200×106 cm — 3-Loop — the dual-base arrangement creates two separate loop clusters visible beneath the glass at positions distributed along the 200 cm length; the 3-loop clusters are lighter and more open, producing a less dense visual pattern beneath the elongated glass plane. Rectangular 200×106 cm — 4-Loop — the same 200×106 cm glass top as the 3-loop variant, with two larger, denser 4-loop clusters; the increased loop density beneath the glass creates a more visually complex rhythmic pattern, with more walnut visible in each base unit relative to the 3-loop variant. The choice between 3-loop and 4-loop is purely a visual/aesthetic decision — both formats function identically as coffee tables and ship at near-identical total weight (84.4 kg vs 87.0 kg).

Materials & Finishes

Both materials — Canaletto Walnut base and Clear Glass top — are fixed across all seven Helix formats. There are no alternative base wood species, stain options, or top finish alternatives.

Walnut Canaletto Base — Fixed

Canaletto Walnut — a select grade of European walnut characterised by a warm amber-brown ground tone with pronounced, open natural grain and occasional figure. The warmth and material richness of Canaletto Walnut is the primary tonal counterpoint to the cool transparency of the glass top in the Helix composition — the two materials (warm organic wood and clear neutral glass) create a deliberate material contrast that is fundamental to the table's character. The looping base geometry means the walnut grain flows continuously around each curved loop element, tracing the organic form of each loop rather than running in a single linear direction as it would in a straight-edged piece; this gives the base an additional layer of visual complexity at close range, where the grain pattern on each curved element is clearly legible.

Clear Glass Top — Fixed

Clear tempered glass — full transparency with no tinting, coating, or surface treatment. The transparent top is non-negotiable to the Helix's design intent: the sculpted walnut loop base is meant to be fully visible from above, and the glass functions as a see-through horizontal plane that provides surface utility without visually interrupting the base's sculptural form. At the Helix's larger formats — particularly 160×160 cm and 200×106 cm — the glass top is very large and correspondingly heavy (85 kg and 75 kg respectively for the top parcels alone); the tempering ensures structural integrity and safety at these dimensions.

Construction Notes

Dimensions

Seven formats — all 38 cm high. Fixed: Canaletto Walnut looping base + Clear Glass top.

Packaging Details

Round and square formats ship in 2 parcels (1 glass top + 1 base unit). Both 200×106 cm rectangular formats ship in 3 parcels (1 glass top + 2 base units). Base parcel dimensions are identical across all formats (13×50×42 cm); only base unit weight varies.

Dimensions Overview

Helix Coffee Table – Dimensions (Inches & CM)