June 4 (Bloomberg) -- Actor Brad Pitt was among the buyers of contemporary ``design art'' furniture at the Design Miami/Basel fair in Switzerland, dealers said today.

Billionaires Roman Abramovich, one of Russia's richest men, and Aditya Mittal, ArcelorMittal chief financial officer, were also seen visiting the fair, said exhibiting dealers.

Pitt, 44, bought and expressed interest in several pieces during his visit to Basel's 1920s domed Markethalle yesterday. He also looked at contemporary works at the main Art Basel show.

The film star paid 150,000 pounds ($293,000) for a hollow white marble rococo-style table by the Dutch designer Jeroen Verhoeven at the booth of the London-based Carpenters Workshop Gallery, Director Loic Le Gaillard said in an interview today.

``Most people come to Basel to look at contemporary art, but it's completely overwhelming,'' said Le Gaillard. ``Then they come to the design fair and it's quiet. They can see contemporary works that are affordable and refreshingly accessible.''

Pitt's 4-foot-long ``Cinderella Table,'' from an edition of six, is hewn from a solid block of Carrara marble. Another version of the table was among 16 pieces that the gallery had sold by the second afternoon of the fair, said Le Gaillard.

Pitt also ordered a rug made of aluminum thread from New York dealer Cristina Grajales, said director Elizabeth Murphy. The ``Silver Sky'' rug, created by Colombian designer Jorge Lizarazo and woven by the Colombian-based studio Hechizoo, will be priced at a rate of $175 per square foot, said Murphy.

The exact dimensions of the star's rug had yet to be specified, she said.

Hadid Sofa

Pitt was also interested in a gold lacquer-coated Fiberglas sofa by Zaha Hadid, offered by London-based dealer Kenny Schachter at $300,000.

``He's thinking about the piece,'' said Schachter.

Another version of the ``Scoop'' sofa, made this year in an edition of three, was sold to a U.S. collector at the fair. Schachter also sold two prototype extruded plastic chairs by U.K. design artist Tom Dixon to British collectors for $75,000 each.

``Design art is a new market that's developing very quickly,'' said Schachter. `` The international appeal of these pieces is now really palpable.''

(Scott Reyburn writes about the art market for Bloomberg News. Any opinions expressed are his own.)

To contact the reporter on this story: Scott Reyburn in London at sreyburn@hotmail.com.

Last Updated: June 4, 2008 11:32 EDT