how to remove old adhesive from victorian tiles on thin ply on a table top

Victorian as in 110+ years old or as in a geometric pattern popular back then? Tile is glued to wood with a glue that allows some (minute that it is) degree of movement because wood expands and contracts with humidity and heat and tile does not. These days it's mostly silicone but I would not be too sure what could they use back then.

I guess, I would approach the issue by trying various solvents starting with the least harsh such as simply soaking the tiles in water and then progressing to alcohol and on to really bad stuff that you're supposed to only work with outside if you value your lungs like paint and varnish strippers and acetone.

If nothing works, you may have to leave it inside a hermetically sealed plastic bag with a tablespoon of acetone for a few days - I've done it on few occasions to glued metal parts - works fine. Couple days in acetone environment like that would dissolve or weaken any organic chemistry product except, fortunately, polyethylene that the bag is made of. But I would definitely start with something less harsh than acetone first.

Thank you for that. Tiles are victorian as in age..table from the Arts & Crafts movement altho I suspect tiles have been replaced since new...the tiles however are victorian. Table was subjected to water falling onto it from burst pipe above, tiles worked their way off. i'm keen to re-use tiles and will try your idea of acetate in a poly bag.....tried the soaking in water and 'chiseling' adhesive off but no good. Thanks again