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French Polishing is the name given to the process of coating wood with a solution of shellac dissolved in alcohol, using a "rubber" made of rag and cotton wool instead of with a brush. The alcohol evaporates, leaving the shellac deposited upon the wood.
When applied correctly it produces what is possibly the finest looking finish for furniture.
Shellac was first introduced into Europe about the 16th Century, but the term "French Polish" was not used until about 1820, when the process was developed by a French cabinet maker.
French Polish is both a proper and collective noun. As a collective noun it covers all polishes made with shellac and alcohol. As a proper noun it refers to one specific type of material made from flake shellac dissolved in industrial alcohol. It consists of approximately 250 - 300 grams of shellac per litre. The type of shellac used can vary considerably in quality and colour, from pale orange to dark brown.
French Polish is suitable for use on all dark woods and light woods, when a light to medium brown tone is required. Button Polish is used to obtain a more orange or golden tone. On light coloured or bleached woods, where it is wished to retain the natural colour, White French Polish, which has a milky appearance, or Transparent Polish, which is almost clear, should be used.
