What to use as a finish for authentic antique furniture…
…that’s what someone wants to know and I will satisfy the request by answering as follows:
Whether authentic or not, there are many finishes to choose from. However, if you want to maintain and enhance the value of the piece, as an authentic antique piece from England, there’s only one way to go, at least in most cases;
that way is French Polish.
Since the late 1700s when shellac was discovered in India/southeast Asia as a way to finish wood, and even more so in the 1800s, in England they would use only shellac, applied by hand of course, with a rubbing pad.
Quality pieces would be finished in that way.
Lesser quality ones instead kept being oiled or waxed, as French Polishing is labour intensive, requires skill and experience, and natural materials, such as shellac, which is so natural that it’s actually edible, became increasingly expensive.
Synthtic materials on the other hand are cheaper to buy, cheaper and faster to apply, even with spray guns, and look perfect.
However, polyurethane and similar products are appropriate for cheap modern pieces, because it’s a cheap way to finish them and make them look good.
Shellac finished furniture can be easily repaired, and do not require a total redo.
Shellac is also warmer to the eyes, softer to the touch, and totally non toxic, which with kids around is always a major concern.
So in brief, an authentic antique table, particularly if English or anyway of high quality, should be finished by French Polishing.
In that way the pice would look more beautiful, the grain of the wood would relly stand out, and that’s great with quality woods such as antique mahogany, walnut, rosewood, satinwood and a few others. The value of the piece would be enhanced, the look of the piece would be the original one, the easiness of repairs to scratches for instance would be impressive.
