EXHIBIT 99A

                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                       AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906
                        OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Annual Report of Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (the
"Company") on Form 10-K for the period ending November 30, 2002, as filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"), I,
Robert H. Spilman, Jr., Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. ss.1350, as adopted pursuant to ss.906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

      1. The Report fully complies with the requirements of Sections 13(a) or
         15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

      2. The information contained in the report fairly presents, in all
         material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of
         the Company.



/s/ Robert H. Spilman, Jr.
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Robert H. Spilman, Jr.
President and Chief Executive Officer
February 20, 2003