A question regarding wood-specifically relating to color

[Dean Romig]

Austin Hogan wrote an article for Parker Pages on Parker stock finishes. He addresses the red color in some original Parker stock finishes. I'll look for the article and post it here.

One of the red finishes he discusses is shellac. Some folks may not know the fact that the old recipes for making shellac called for the use of powdered beetle "shell" or wing cases for the red color.






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[mobirdhunter]

Originally Posted by Dean Romig

Austin Hogan wrote an article for Parker Pages on Parker stock finishes. He addresses the red color in some original Parker stock finishes. I'll look for the article and post it here.

One of the red finishes he discusses is shellac. Some folks may not know the fact that the old recipes for making shellac called for the use of powdered beetle "shell" or wing cases for the red color.
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I worked in an art conservation lab for several years and can vouch for the beetle shells as a component of shellac. All older mixtures of shellac and/or varnish will change color with age. They also go from more transparent to less so as they age. They are organic substances, like the wood, and age to the look we find them in today (assuming they are original). Kind of like most of us, eh?