The purpose of this study was to identify the components of a suspected wax-plant resin mixture using a holistic method that did not require prior separation or chemical modification for analysis nor produce quantities of data through a separation or fragmentation regime to be interpreted only in a comparative context. Carbon-13 Fourier transform nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy was determined to be ideally suited to discriminate among target components without modification of sample. The principles of the method are described. Fingerprints of beeswax, paraffin, tallow, shellac, and spermaceti wax have shown distinct profiles. The identification and potential source-typing of resinous substances used in varnished or lacquered artifacts present new opportunities in authentication and will provide complementary information to studies of these materials based upon analyses of degradation products. -- AATA