Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Stripping an antique table we found at yard sale . .

We found an old sewing notions table at a yard sale this weekend. I have no idea how old it is. The drawers have dovetails and the bottom of the table is slatted wood instead of solid. The table has been painted (from what we can tell) at least twice. There is a brown paint on top that's already popping up, and it looks like a black paint underneath of that. The inside looks natural or stained. What is the best way to strip the paint?

Dovetails indicate this is worth saving. Paint is usually easier to strip than varnish or poly, so start with a citrus based VOC friendly stripper. Use the nasty ones as a last resort. There likely is a clear finish under the paint, but I would guess it is shellac or lacquer, also fairly easy to remove. Don't use really sharp tools, putty knife usually works well, and let the stripper do most of the work. Use rubber gloves and if inside, a good respirator mask.

If the table is a true antique it may be worth some investigation to find out what you have before stripping. If it has value and the damaged paint is original you may ruin it's resale value. I would have a knowledgeable antique dealer look at it.