For indoor work, use a good quality spirit varnish; for outdoor work, use a good oak, copal, or carriage varnish. A wipe over with raw linseed oil will fetch out the figure, a reddish tinge being imparted by colouring the oil by adding a small quantity of alkanet root - 2 oz. to 1 pt. Elm is a good wood for taking a walnut stain. Use a grain filler before applying any varnish or polish.