During the Georgian era, particular wood species were chose for specific purposes. Chair legs were chosen for strength (frequently oak, chestnut or even hickory), seats for how easily they could be carved (pine, poplar and similar softwoods), and if there were bent and steamed backs, woods needing the ability to be steamed and bent, etc.
Except for finer furniture with entire exteriors made from mahogany, or entirely from oak, the items were meant to be painted. Although most people think milk-paints were used for most painting projects, that is a misconception. During the colonial era, flax was grown everywhere in order to make linen cloth. A by product of linen production are the flax seed, sometimes called "flax seed" which could be pressed to produce flax oil/flax seed oil (they are for all intents and purposes, the same). That oil is better known as "linseed oil." Linseed oil is one of the components used to make traditional oil based paints.
Linseed oil rubbed onto a milk painted surface will penetrate the painted layer and begins to produce a hard shell, and resists wear and abrasion better than an untreated surface. BOTH milkpaints and linseed home made enamel paints were used during the 18th century, and they can appear to be similar but are not the same.
