To make a black stain that will give a dull finish, as seen on Chippendale furniture, it is usual first to stain the wood with extract of logwood and copperas, followed by solutions of acetate or sulphate of iron. This, in turn, is French-polished, an intense black being obtained by adding black aniline spirit dye to the polish. When perfectly hard, this is dulled by well brushing with finest-grade emery or pumice powder. Staining alone is rarely sufficient for any but the very cheapest class of work. The following is the French method of obtaining a dull finish on high-class goods: The articles are first coated with camphor water, and almost immediately afterwards with a coat of sulphate of iron and nutgalls. When quite dry, the surface is rubbed with a very hard brush of couch-grass, and then with the lightest and finest-quality charcoal, the flat portions with stick or cake charcoal, the carved or incised portions with powder, using linseed and turpentine to keep the surface cool and moist.

Tins process yields best results when employed on woods of a hard, close grain.