restoring saarinen table top  

You might find
this thread useful:
http://www.designaddict.com/design_addict/forums/index.cfm/fuseaction/th...

Certainly looks like travertine to me.
The "dents" are chips, obviously. The "holes" are typical of travertine, not flaws. Is there a crack in the top, or am I misreading the photo? Nonetheless-- great looking table.
http://www.countertopspecialty.com/cleaning-travertine.html

travertine it is then...
thanks for very useful links! appreciate it very much.
there indeed are couple of fine cracks on the top and there is some sort of sealing on them. The person who sold me the table told me that the top has reinforcing metal wires under the base (I can't see them but I do see some similar sealant under there).
i am not sure if it's better to keep the top as it is, try to get it restored or even consider buying a new top. if it's not a knoll table, i don't think it would be worth going through the restoration process.

Cracked stone is
cracked stone. Like cracked glass, it is fatally flawed, and should be replaced. If you can get your money back, I would. If it was a real bargain, use it as is or find a new top. It's a handsome table, of course.

ouch
looks like there is no hope for restoring the beautiful table top 🙁 i will try getting the top checked to see if it's safe or not.
can someone please confirm if this indeed is a knoll table? did knoll ever make this table with travertine tops?
thank you all.

Google
Saarinen table Travertine.
http://www.etsy.com/listing/69692102/48-saarinen-style-tulip-dining-table

That etsy link shows a top...
That etsy link shows a top not made by knoll. it doesn't have a bevel at the edge.

Hmm..
No doubt Meg's tulip base is correct, but I question the originality of the cracked travertine top. It just doesn't seem to have that right bevel or elliptical edge. Plus I don't recall ever seeing another. But then, I could be wrong.

beautiful table
Unlike glass, marble and stone can be repaired.
Your table, with a hairline crack may survive as is for years.
It is lovely as it is but the edge chips and natural pits could
be repaired. A tulip table is not for dancing no matter the surface.
If it makes you uneasy, have it repaired or, last resort, replaced.
Personally i would take your pics to a stone cutter/supplier
and see what they think.
It does look all original to me as the seller stated.
But i am no expert.
Why not contact Knoll directly?
http://www.marblerestoration.us/table-top-repair.htm

oops
Having some issues with the site so just ended up reposting my response. (Everytime I refresh now, see different number of responses ) Sorry about that.

Keep us posted.
Please keep us posted on what you find out!

.
If you give up on the top, i will take it off your hands. That is if you are
anywhere near NYC. ; )
My tulip chairs are a custom color, a medium bone white on the white scale.
Travetine would work best over the icy blue white of the marble top.

thank you for restoring my hope!
I will contact Knoll to see if they have any tips, and to see if they can verify authenticity of this piece.
I am also in process of sending pictures to local stone/furniture restoration companies.
Not that I have run extensive searches but I have tried and haven?t come across other Saarinen tables with similar tops (except for one ebay listing) so it?s still a puzzle.
But, whoever had this table, definitely tried getting it fixed which tells me that they did try to save it. I guess they wouldn?t have if the top was a fake. But then again, I don?t? know much. Also, it does have bevel edge ? made by knoll or not, that I don?t know.
I got it at a bargain price but I didn?t get it just because it was a bargain. So, I will have find a way to make it safe, if possible restore and if nothing else, replace.

never seen a travertine top...
never seen a travertine top before, looks fantastic!