The rubber for spiriting-off should be made up from a piece of old flannel, and be covered with a piece of old rag.  This is preferable to very thin rag, and will give a better finish.

=Prepared Spirits.=—­This preparation is useful for finishing, as it adds to the lustre and durability, as well as removes every defect of other polishes, and it gives the surface a most brilliant appearance.

It is made of half a pint of the very best rectified spirits of wine, two drachms of shellac, and two drachms of gum benzoin.  Put these ingredients in a bottle and keep in a warm place till the gum is all dissolved, shaking it frequently; when cold add two teaspoonfuls of the best clear white poppy oil; shake them well together, and it is fit for use.

=Antique Style.=—­For mediaeval or old English furniture a dull polish is generally preferred to a French polish, because it has a gloss rather than a brilliant polish, which materially assists in showing up mouldings or carvings to the best advantage; it is also more in character with the work of the Middle Ages.  Another advantage is the facility of obtaining a new polish (after being once done) should the first one get tarnished, as the finishing process can be performed without difficulty by any one, and a new polish obtained each time.

On receiving a job which is required to be done in this style, it should be “filled-in” in the usual manner, and afterwards bodied with white polish to a good extent; it is then left for a sinking period (say twelve hours).  The work is then carefully rubbed down with powdered pumice-stone and a felt-covered block or rubber, and after well dusting it is ready for finishing.  The preparation used for this process is mainly composed of bees’-wax and turpentine (see Wax Polish, page 87), well rubbed in with a piece of felt or a woollen rag, and finished off by rubbing briskly with a very soft cloth or an old handkerchief to produce a gloss.

=Dull or Egg-shell Polish.=—­This is another style of finishing for mediaeval work; the process is very simple.  In commencing a job to be finished in this style, the process of “filling-in” and “embodying” are first gone through, then a sinking period is allowed, after which it is embodied again, till the work is ready for finishing.  All the parts should be carefully examined to see if there is a good coating of polish upon them.  This is important, for if the work should be only thinly coated it is liable to be spoiled by rubbing through in the last process.  After allowing a few hours for the surface to harden, a pounce bag of powdered pumice-stone should be applied to the work, and a felt-covered rubber used, rubbing down in the direction of the grain until the work is of the desired dulness.