How about a naptha wipe-down, sealing coat of dewaxed shellac, followed
by toner coats to get the color right?

Dave

Robert Kline wrote:

I did a job for a company that ordered 50 maple items. They chose maple
because they wanted to match their existing office decor. These are
small (2² X 10²) desk name bars with engraved plates. I used hard maple
and finished them with Natural Watco Oil then buffed them with Carnauba
wax with the Beall system. When they received them, they saw that they
were lighter than their office furniture and advised me that their
office furniture is done in cherry-maple, a wood that I¹m not familiar
with. They asked me if there is a way to darken the name plates and I
told them that, if there¹s a way, someone on this newsgroup will come up
with the answer. Sanding and re-staining would be a very last resort.
Thanks