My own pet theory is that so called original Tudor etc 'Dark Oak' furniture was never stained when it was first made, but was simply finished with beeswax. Over the centuries, grime and dirt was ingrained into the timber (remember they had open sooty fireplaces etc) and as the wax didn't seal the surface it eventually turned brown.
The NT revamped a house at Avebury recently (the subject of TV programme a while back) and the 'Tudor Room' has been outfitted with reproduction pieces (couple of chairs and a bench, 'hayrake' table, aumbry) which have been left in the natural oak colour...and they do look rather fetching!
I have to make an oak linenfold chest for my daughter which will eventually end up '
oop narth' and there's no way it's going to get stained brown, but I suspect that Mike will be under a much greater influence
and will have no real choice
- Rob
I no longer work for Axminster Tools & Machinery.