A marble top is a slab of marble used as the surface of a table, commode, cabinet, washstand or other piece of furniture. Marble is heavy, cool and resistant to heat and water, making it practical as well as decorative, and the choice and colour of the stone contributes greatly to the appearance of a piece.
Marble tops were fashionable on grand European furniture from the seventeenth century onwards, particularly on pier and console tables, side tables and French commodes, where coloured marbles such as brèche d'Alep, griotte and Carrara complemented gilt bronze mounts and veneers. In Britain, Georgian side tables for dining rooms often had marble tops to withstand the serving of food and drink, while Victorian washstands, dressing chests and bedside cabinets were commonly fitted with white or grey marble. Specimen tops inlaid with many different stones were brought back by Grand Tour travellers. Collectors check whether a top is original to its base, look for good colour and figure, crisp moulded edges and an even polish. Cracks, chips, staining and old repairs are common. Marble should be cleaned with pH-neutral products, as acids from wine and fruit will etch the polished surface.
