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With paper towels at the ready, I tried a couple drops of acetone.

Nothing. Didn’t even touch it.

So I tried a few drops of isopropanol.

Same results. No gumming up, the shellac or whatever stayed hard as ever.

It actually comes off very easy if I scrape it, I can do the flat parts just fine, it just takes patience. But around them button thingys I’m not so sure... I wonder if it could be very, very lightly sandblasted? It would take if off in a millisecond!

Don't use a sandblaster on any fine wood...The only time I used a sandblaster was on my husbands grandmothers old oak table...It has so many coats of paint stripper just got gummy. It worked for the legs on oak because the blasting took out the softer parts of the wood and it wasn't noticeable, and all 4 legs looked the same...I tried it on a small section of the table top and that was a big no no..I had to do the top several times to get the gummy old paints off...A flat surface with a sandblaster will ruin it.

Be sure to use the right kind of sand... Although if your working with glass and want a pattern, you tape off what you want to stay clear, and lightly sandblast the other area's...practice with scrap glass to find out how much to use....With a sand blaster you will get the sand into every part of your face...I used my son's welding mask and did it back by the barn...even safety glasses are not sufficient....good luck

If neither acetone nor isopropanol are touching it, and if the vintage of the piece is late 1940’s / early 1950’s (I concur with 4yearlurker up-thread) then you won’t be dealing with shellac. You probably are also not dealing with a printed grain. It is likely a thin hardwood laminate onto plywood, probably finished off with a coat of varnish.

Still, you have the original finish and the patina, both of which you should try to preserve, else you won’t be able to match it when you re-finish.

I’d stay away from paint stripper unless you really do want a brand-new looking piece.

If the varnish is easily chipping off, I’d suggest a very, very, very fine sandpaper — wet&dry — in an orbital sander. Use plenty water and sand away. Keep the slurry on the piece, spread it around. When you figure you’ve got the varnish off, wipe away the slurry and have a good look-see.

The slurry will act as a lubricant, helping you keep from cutting too deep. As it is wet it will also raise the grain, which will in turn get cut down by the wet&dry. You should end up with a very smooth, very even-colored finish.

Do the carved bits by hand, if you must, or with a Dremel, or just leave them.

Once done, finish with a nice satin polyurethane or maybe even Danish Oil.