Antique servers were originally designed to hold food before it was served to guests, acting as a staging area for platters and serving dishes. They also served as storage for these items. 

 

Marble was considered a high-end material, associated with wealth and grandeur, reflecting the sophisticated tastes of the elite during periods like the Louis XV and Louis XVI eras.  The natural beauty of marble, with its unique veining and subtle luster, added a touch of elegance and visual interest to the furniture. French artisans often selected marble slabs for their color, veining, and durability, and carefully polished them to enhance their natural beauty. Marble is a naturally hard and dense stone, making it resistant to scratches, chips, and damage. It is also heat-resistant and easy to clean, making it a practical choice for surfaces like commodes and buffets, which were used for both storage and serving.  Marble tops provided a beautiful contrast to the intricately carved and often gilded wooden bases of French furniture. The thick overhanging tops also helped to accentuate the forms of the furniture pieces.