French polish
Lustrous furniture finish
French polish is a high-gloss finish for wood, achieved by applying many thin layers of shellac with a cloth pad.
The technique produces a mirror-like shine prized on fine furniture and musical instruments: The antique table had been restored with French polish.
As a verb, to French-polish is to apply this finish.
Resinous wood coating
- paddingMaterial for cushioning
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- layeringForming successive strata
- bodyingGiving physical form
spiriting · fad · pumice · oil · alcohol · cotton · wool · building
Resinous wood coating
- lacInsect-derived resinous coating
- cheeseclothOpen-weave straining fabric
- muslinPlain-woven cotton cloth
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
Craft of building furniture
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- restorationReturning something to condition
- veneerDecorative outer layer
- mahoganyReddish-brown tropical lumber
rosewood · walnut · ebony · marquetry · inlay · piano · guitar · furniture
Shine or annotation
- lusterSoft reflected light
- sheenSoft surface luster
- depthDistance below surface
- clarityState of being understandable
mirrorlike · transparency · patina · smoothness · reflective · gleaming · radiant · amber
shellac
Resinous wood coating
- paddingMaterial for cushioning
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- layeringForming successive strata
bodying · spiriting · fad · pumice · oil · alcohol · cotton · wool · building · curing
shellac
Resinous wood coating
- lacInsect-derived resinous coating
- cheeseclothOpen-weave straining fabric
- muslinPlain-woven cotton cloth
cabinetmaking
Craft of building furniture
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- restorationReturning something to condition
- veneerDecorative outer layer
mahogany · rosewood · walnut · ebony · marquetry · inlay · piano · guitar · furniture · tabletop
gloss
Shine or annotation
clarity · mirrorlike · transparency · patina · smoothness · reflective · gleaming · radiant · amber · warmth
- wood finishesshellac, lacquer, varnish, polyurethane, linseed oil
- woodworkingwoodworking, wood, saw, hammer, drill
- surface finishingbuffing, sanding, grinding, varnishing, lacquering
- finishingcompleting, finalizing, finishing, done, concluded
- French Furniturearmoire, armoires, bergere, buffet, chaise
- shellacshellac
French polishraw wood
Timber without finish
matte finish · flat finish · rustic finish · distressed finish · rough-hewn