Can I ship a heavy marble top piece without breaking the marble?

Yes, but marble needs special handling. The marble top should almost always be removed from the furniture and packed separately. Marble is strong when lying flat on a full surface but can crack easily if it flexes, so it should travel standing on its edge, not lying flat, and be well supported.

Professional shippers often sandwich marble between padded boards or build a small crate for it. Corners and edges are especially vulnerable, so they should be padded. The furniture itself can then be blanket-wrapped and shipped normally.

Because marble is heavy and difficult to replace with an exact match, it is worth hiring a shipper with experience in antiques. If the top is already cracked or repaired, document it with photos before shipping. Avoid parcel services for marble, since automated handling greatly increases the risk of breakage.