A Viking-style chest can be finished with pine tar by brushing a thin coat onto dry exterior wood, especially the underside, edges, joints, and iron-adjacent areas where an aged dark finish suits the design.
Pine tar gives a wooden chest a dark, smoky, early-medieval look that suits reenactment camps, display interiors, and outdoor historical settings. It works best on bare wood that has been shaped and assembled before finishing. The surface will become darker and more rustic than it would with clear oil or wax.
Brush or rub tar onto the outside of the chest in a thin layer. Pay attention to feet, underside boards, corners, and end grain because those areas are most exposed to damp when the chest is used outside. Avoid heavy tar inside the chest unless the smell and staining are acceptable for everything stored in it.
Metal fittings, leather hinges, straps, and painted decoration can all change when tar touches them. Mask or avoid any part that should remain clean. Let the chest air thoroughly before use, because fresh tar can transfer to cloth, parchment, books, clothing, and pale floors.