A Rosewood Frame

The rosewood frame has been assembled and finished.

Rosewood can be a tricky veneer to age. The wood has a very strong colour which if simply polished is too bright and new, yet toning the colour darkens the wood and can result in the loss of effect. I use waterstains because they give good control of debth and colour. A careful addition of dry pigments in shellac mellows the effect.
I've used four layers of shellac to build up the surface, painted on a light antiquing glaze, then two coats of clear wax.