I like shellac and have used 0000 wool to knock down the gloss, but I think I might try the brown paper bag idea.

I have some Hock garnet that just builds so much better than stuff I had gotten in a can. I'll likely use that on my next finishing project, a cabinet for all my hand planes, which hopefully will begin this weekend (if the glue-up goes well tonight, and clean-up tomorrow). Though the milk paint is also calling out to me.

Since I am mostly a neander WW, these old finishes kind of tug at me. Hmm, shellac or milk paint. I suppose I could mix the finish--part of the cabinet shellac (maybe the face frame), part milk pain (case). Might make for an interesting contrast.