If you wish to see the French polishing technique in action, visit
a shop that repairs and restores string instruments (violins, etc).
It is fairly standard practice to French polish an instrument after
working on it so that it is clean and looks nice upon return to the
customer.  You might even talk the technician out of some of his
"secret formula" polish.  (Every shop has their own secret formula,
although I suspect they are all very similar.)

John W Miller - Haas Musical Instrument Repair
New Brighton, Minnesota
www.haasmusic.com
www.PianoRollStuff.com