How can I refurbish this old table/is it worth it?

[Lastdance]

We have inherited this small coffee table with inlaid pieces on top of a vine & flowers in green & gold stain, with a small brass gallery going around both sides of the table. It has fancy carved legs. Looks French(?). It's in good shape, but the top needs some work. A refinisher said he'd refinish for $400. May I have your thoughts/opinion on how to proceed? Thanks very much!

[curiosity]

A beautiful and unique coffee table.  Strangely, refinishing the top will actually drastically reduce it's value. The wear and tear authenticate the piece.
   To help bring back some of the top's original beauty wipe it down with some tung oil allow to soak about a half hour then wipe clean with a soft cotton cloth like an old tee shirt.
 I believe the table originally had a glass top which has been lost through the years. I would advise replacing the glass top.
 Once refiinished you can never go back, but left as original you could always refinish.
  Of course, you have to live with it and so you get to choose whether to leave as originial or refinish.

[Lastdance]

Thanks for your reply, curiosity!  Do you know how I might clean the brass galley around the edges? It's very tarnished and one of the small nails that attaches it to the side came out (I can easily fix that).

If I clean it with tung oil, do I need to put anything else on it? Wax? Polish? I intend to get a glass top, thanks for that idea.

Lastdance

[Michelle Staley]

What a beautiful table.

I am in full agreement with curiosity... thank you for all your help on the forum by the way..... do not have this refinished.

Tung oil or I use Danish oil will penetrate the surface and give it a nice hand rubbed look. If the piece is dirty you can clean it with Murphy's oil soap to get rid of any grime and wax build-up then use the oil. I re-oil my furniture every year.

As for the brass you can shine it up with brasso or any good metal cleaner.

And get the glass for the top.

Enjoy this wonderful table.

[Lastdance]

Thanks, Michelle, for the idea to clean with Murphy's. The table is probably dirtier than I realize, and it wouldn't hurt. It does have some "coffee cup" circles in a few places. When it's cleaned up and 'tung oiled', I'll post another photo (IF it comes out good...

Thanks for your input!

Lastdance