This bibliography is an attempt - by no means complete - to examine historical writings on furniture finishing and the related arts, with the hope of learning more about changing varnishes (lacquers) and their compositions during the period they saw great use. It is accepted today that most of the brass used on furniture, for hinges, pulls, etc., was originally varnished with a tinted concoction, to serve the dual purpose of protecting the shiny brass from atmospheric and other corrosion, as well as to make it look more like its much more valuable relative, gold. While this fact is acknowledged, there seems to be a lack of unified opinion amongst furniture people on just what these brasses (and other metals) should look like to be historically appropriate. As the materials used to color the varnishes were typically fugitive organic dyes, and the brasses usually polished ad nauseum, it is highly unlikely that any remaining examples retain anything resembling their former luster. As G.A. Siddons stated in his work on finishes: ... If pains be taken with your lacker, it will look like metal gilt... . Therefore, it seem reasonable that a thorough study of possible formulations is in order, to facilitate formulations of samples, which can then be matched with more appropriate and permanent synthetic colors and resins. To this end, the bibliography is a first step. I have tended to approach the topic from the standpoint of colored varnishes rather than changing varnishes proper, since there are many analogous uses of this type of finish in objects other than furniture (musical instruments, ornamental tin, etc.). Also texts dealing with dyes have proven useful to understanding the organic colorants used, and helping to unravel the often confusing and obscure names applied through the years to these substances.