How do you fix a wobbly marble top?

Most original tops rest loosely on the base. Gravity holds the heavy stone in place against the frieze. If the stone rocks, check the timber frame. Decades of heating can warp the upper rails. You might need thin wooden shims placed between the marble and the carcase to level it.

I bought an old table with a painted base but I want to strip it back to the original wood, is that safe to do on my own?

Proceed with caution before stripping any painted surface. Many eighteenth-century bases were originally painted, rather than gilded or polished. The current layer might hide historic decoration. Softwood frames were rarely left bare. If you strip a pine base, you will find rough tool marks and glue lines. Have a conservator test the layers first.

Can they stand freely in a room?

They are unstable away from a wall. The shallow frame makes them front-heavy. The visual balance looks wrong if you try to use one as a centre table.

The gold finish on the legs is flaking off in big chunks and revealing a dull white powdery material underneath, what should I do about it?

That white powder is the gesso layer. Fluctuations in humidity cause the underlying timber to shrink and swell, cracking the rigid ground. Keep the piece away from radiators. Collect any large flakes that fall off. A restorer can reattach them using traditional animal glue.

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Antique Pier Tables

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Designed to stand against the masonry between tall windows, an antique pier table is a formal side table built with an unfinished back and an ornate facade.