This is an example of the marbling I started the thread with.  In this case, the background was painted back, and gold-leaf lacquer was floated in a tub of water and stirred, and after a marbled pattern appeared, I simply dipped the black plinth in. After drying I sprayed the plinth with high-gloss clear lacquer to hold, protect and create the illusion of polished marble.  This is the 'table I sent Dave Pogue, which beat his VPI TNT/JMW 10.5 rig when "armed" only with an old SME IIIS.  It is made of layers of MDF, birch-ply and maple-ply as well, as this combination seems to get to the heart of the music.  But then again, all re-plinthed Lencos do!"