A trick if you want something beautiful and black - but doesn't cost $100+/bdft...

Use a wood that's light colored, tough, and less expensive... Hickory, ash, hornbeam, dogwood, elm, etc... And then char the wood lightly with a torch... It's a beautiful and traditional wood "finish" that is massively rot and bug resistant... Lightly charred - it won't leave black muck all over your hands...