This arrived quicker than expected and in excellent shape.  top just screws on.  easy.  the gold bottom does look gold and not brassy.  I love it!  I began to notice some very faint scratching but the color is still white where the scratch is.  ( my dinner plates have very, very rough pottery bottoms.)  if you are on the fence... buy it!  it is one of my best finds.  i love things that look thrice what I paid for them.  it doesn't rock.  stable.  oh, and yes, the table top is a true white.  the white and gold is super attractive.  who knew?? I have white leather armless chairs for seating at this table.