How do I clean a dry oak surface?

Feed the timber with a good quality beeswax polish. Apply a thin coat with a soft cloth and leave it overnight to soak in. Buff the surface the next morning using a clean duster. Avoid modern spray polishes as they leave a silicone residue that dulls the natural patina.

I need to fit this into an alcove in my dining room, so do the tops normally lift off the base or is it one solid piece?

The main carcase is almost always a single fixed structure. The top boards are pegged or nailed firmly into the frame beneath. You will need to move the entire unit as one piece. Check your access routes carefully before trying to get a large base through narrow modern doorways.

What is a pot board base?

It is a solid wooden shelf running between the legs just above the floor.

My floor is quite uneven in the old part of the house, will a piece with six legs sit flat without wobbling around?

Multiple legs often struggle on uneven floors. You will probably need to pack small wedges under one or two feet to keep the surface level. Many old floors have settled over the centuries. Scribing the feet to fit the floor was common in the past, but using a subtle wedge avoids cutting the timber.

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Antique Dresser Bases from the 18th Century

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A low, long wooden sideboard consisting of drawers and cupboards set beneath a flat serving surface, originally designed for kitchens or dining rooms to store plates and prepare food.