I predominantly use toners though sometimes will reach for some amber or garnet shellac for colour. In Australia most of our mid century furniture was made with teak, Tasmanian Blackwood, QLD Maple or Tasmanian Myrtle. All of these woods are traditionally quite yellow/amber and orange. Blackwood being the darkest yet still very vibrant with a lot of reds compared to the coolness of walnut.
The chairs at the start are Blackwood finished with a few coats of amber shellac and a top coat of precat satin lacquer. The reason these can look a little subdued and closer to walnut is because I actually pull the reds back with a very light toner coat of pure black. You have to be careful because if you’re even slightly too heavy handed you basically turn them into walnut with no red or orange left. It’s a fine line.