How To: Move Saarinen 42" Marble Table?  

Get some old bike tires, cut them up, and tape them around the edge. Then just pick it up and roll it wherever it needs to go.
I mean, that might work?

The top unscrews from the base. Take it apart before moving it.

Thanks fastfwd. I'm assuming the table top unscrews counter-clockwise? and tightens clockwise, like a standard screw? Also, how do you know when it's been fully unscrewed? Sorry for the basics, never done this before, want to make sure I don't screw it up and be out $1,500.

Maybe use some of the savings and hire pros to do it? And insure for full replacement value, not the $0.60/lb. required by law that your signature on the Bill of Lading entitles you to collect in the event of loss.
But, if you're like me, why hire pros when you're perfectly capable of breaking it yourself ...for free?
Seriously, get some clean quilted moving blankets, a roll of stretch wrap, a four-wheel dolly, a hand truck, some basic tools, your brother-in-law's minivan, a big not-too-smart pal who likes cheap beer and make a day of it. It's not that complicated.

Thanks tktoo, you are correct, the move itself "is not that complicated", but that's not what I was asking for in my question. I was asking for advice on whether the base could be/should be removed from the actual table top and if so how is it removed?
Even in your list you mentioned "some basic tools". Well, what tools are you recommending and for what reason? For me a basic tool is a hammer and a hacksaw, is that what I would need? And what would I be using them for?

There is a large nut (I believe 15mm but could be wrong) on the bottom of the table. Unscrew the nut and the top lifts off the base.
Note that there is a long threaded rod coming out of the top that cannot be removed. This slightly complicates moving the top.
I've moved mine a couple times and its not a big deal. You will need two people to move the marble top. The base could be moved by a single person.

Lowe9: Thanks so very, very much!! That info is invaluable and I appreciate it very much! It really is surprising how there really is no info on this topic, it's made me really wonder how all those other Marble Tulip tables on Craigslist are being moved around.
You mentioned a bolt at the bottom and then just lifting, someone else in this thread indicated that I would need to "unscrew" the marble top from the base. Did you have to do that at all?
I know I might be overly cautious and seem a bit paranoid but $1,500 is a lot (otherwise I would just buy one new and have it delivered, and not be scouring for a used one) so I want to make sure I know what I'm doing at this strangers house where I'm picking it up from. I've been scouring the web for images, videos, text, anything with no luck.
Again, thanks very much!

I'm surprised that no one suggested turning the table upside down. It seems to me the table could be padded and crated that way, and moved quite safely. Even for disassembly, inverting the table is the way to go . . . no ? Or was that assumed . . .

SDR,
That would make sense, but unfortunately the doorways that I have to go through wouldn't be 42" across (the width of the table itself, so the table won't fit, it would have to be carried out vertically (or somewhat vertically) since it’s only 28" high, which would fit perfectly through a doorway, but my fear is moving it base attached and the weight of the base putting too much stress on the marble if it were sideways that the chances of cracking it are greater? Don't know.
This will be my first time so really trying to get a sense for what I could expect and the best approach, although putting it upside down makes total sense to me.
If the guy selling it to me is willing to hold it for another few days I may end up just calling a fully insured moving company and letting them deal with it, but would like to minimize that expense as I'm sure it would be pricey.
Danny

I believe SDR means inverting the table in order to separate the base from the top. That way the top is already safely against the floor. Once the parts are separate, move them individually to the end location and reassemble the table with the top laying on the floor and set it upright after it is reassembled.

I like mcgee's suggestion for protecting the table edge. Many heavy furniture items can be moved within the residence by means of old towels or throw rugs placed under the piece (for smooth floors) or pieces of plastic laminate or other smooth thin sheet goods (for carpet). Sliding beats lifting every time !
I was hired to dismantle (cut) a custom furniture piece, to move it from one room to another. But some investigation revealed that if the piece was placed on end, it would wheel through the intervening doorway -- just. I provided a scrap-wood box to help balance the odd-shaped piece on its upright sliding journey. The owner was pleased . . .

Thank you both for your suggestions, sirlampsalot and SDR, much appreciated! Hopefully I'll be able to update you tomorrow with good news experiences, as this is occurring tonight.

If you decide to flip the thing upside down to disassemble/reassemble it, be very careful and make sure to support it right where the top mounts to the base. Both pieces are very heavy, and if you don't support them carefully when you rotate the assembly around, the leverage will put a lot of stress on the joint between them. (This is also why you shouldn't ever lift the table by its top; the joint between the top and base isn't intended to support the hanging weight of the base.)
Also, be very careful when setting the table upside-down on its top; if it's not exactly square to the floor, you'll be putting a lot of weight on the top's delicate knife edge.

Good points. And under no circumstances would you want to step or kneel on the underside of the top if it was resting on a softly padded surface. Altogether, a tricky problem.