An update The base coat seems to be an animal glue. As I am removing the bottom layer I find that it has that "special" odor and gets soft with water. This is only on the parts with the veneer. In traditional hot glue veneering, both sides get glue on them so this may be the reason??? The black may be a varnish as solvent do not seem to soften it.

hello Thanks gor the update. That seem to be a standard from those times. the glue is probably rabbit skin (mixed with a powder)
used after the veener is glued, not at the time of gluing I believe, (?) or the cauls have to be rubbed with tallow. the surface is moistened wth hot water for what I know of the process and probably not for all kinds of veener.


to make a refinishing or repair the black french polish is the "easy" solution. and you get a shine as polyester ( may be more glossy)
but it is dfficult to learn to do it well.
and it is a fragile finish, when one think of what will be done on it after.

it is better to sand and if not cracked you have your undercoat.

those jobs are to be done with modern finishes today. nobody want to spend the time to make a finish that can be so fragile.

but it may be authentic more than a PU or poly.

I worked that as a mean to make repairs. it also allow once you made your "hand" (in the end the eye is also important of course) , to use faster methods with filtered shellacks.
temperature and moisture play a large role in the easyness.

what will you do as refinishing ?

I have seen skin glue or rabbit skin glue used on the hard wood parts as well