Bakling soda and vinegard, with a green scrubby. I used to have the exact same table!

The green patina indicates copper. Copper turns green with oxidation.

I second lhsimm. Starting to look like the Statue of Liberty.
Paige, how much baking soda and vinegar would we need to make New York Harbor look like the alternative universe on Fringe

Yes, looks like copper. Baking soda and vinegar works on copper and brass.

The copper content in brass still makes brass prone to oxidation. It just happens slower in brass.

This page showing a very similar table seems to indicate it is brass. http://www.amazingpartythemes.com/props/brass%20objects.htm

Definitely copper. Brass is made of copper and zinc; the zinc gives brass a yellowish color, whereas copper is more orange. The important thing is never to use anything containing ammonia, which makes brass crack.

Brasso and a soft brush. I recently restored hardware on a dresser from the 1920s this way. I still don't know whether it's brass or copper - it's definitely pinkish, though.

I've used baking soda and vinegar in the past on an antique brass bed and it was a little too strong - it seemed to damage some of the connector pieces that are lined with iron or steel. So now I use Brasso on that, as well.

I would caution against scrubbing too hard if it is, in fact, copper. Copper is often plated over another metal, so it can wear off if you are over zealous.

If it's copper, try cutting a lemon in half, apply a little salt and rub on the surface. Cleans copper nicely!

Thanks for the tips on the table, everyone! I think I will start trying with the lemon & salt first, and then move to the baking soda and vinegar. Any suggestions on what I could re-lacquer the table with?

i worked 2 an antique store years ago & was turned on to 'nevr-dull wadding polish', is sold @ rest hardware- is sold @ walmart & similar cheaper! is a can of cotton wadding, you can reuse til it's too gross to touch, use on all metals. the antique shop lady was told about it by a Harley guy who used it for the chrome on his bike!

I would have never in a million years thought of that - thanks, Trish!

I would leave it as is... I like a good patina.

in metal engraving, we usually use copper plates, which we clean constantly with a solution of water and vinegar with a soft cotton cloth. it keeps the plates from oxidizing for a good long time. no acids though, they leave spots.

I live in Turkey and have several of these in my house. They are -- as is yours -- definitely copper. The best way to clean it, a method I learned from the Turks, is to pour some salt into a shallow bowl, then halve a lemon. Dip the lemon half into the salt, then rub the copper down to remove the tarnish. Keep doing this until the copper shines brightly again. Rinse well with water and then dry immediately with a clean, soft towel. Do not use soap on the tray and do not leave it wet. You only have to do this every few months or so. Also: don't put food (like bread) on the copper table. I've been told that food can absorb the metal and be bad for you to ingest. I wouldn't bother putting a lacquer on it. I use mine as a dining room "table", as do many people I know, and it doesn't need a lacquer of any kind.

It's a table style which you can can see also in Turkey and generally is copper.