An old Yankee trick that has worked like a wonder for me on an varnished antique wagon trunk (that my G-daughter forgot to tell me she had used as her watercolor painting table!)and a beautiful burled wood sofa table w/a perfect water ring on it. You will need to find find someone who smokes and a piece of soft cotton material. Slightly dampen the cloth and with your finger inside it pick up a small amount of the ashes on your fingertip. Using a gentle rubbing motion go back and forth with grain of wood over the damaged area. Add more ashes as needed until you have rubbed the whole area. They became white and even more damaged looking but after it dried out both woods looked as they had prior to damage. Hope this helps. PS. I am a former J-Towner who went to RHS in Newport. I miss "home". ... View related article.
