Ebonizing is just a fancy word for dyeing or staining wood black. I use aneline dyes and other ink products to achieve this. Others use different techniques. Thus, the word ebonize is used. It is simple to do. However, make sure you put on some old clothes and something round where you will be working if you want to keep it clean. Any staining will be permanent on what it touches. I basically apply heavy amounts on the wood wipe it off and let it dry. More is applied if needed. One must be careful not to let it form a film on the surface as it can cause finish delamination. Then apply sealers and a finish. I usually spray the final coat.
Good looking piece. I've never "ebonized" wood before to use in furniture making (I like real ebony), but I use black leather dye on granite, where it is porous and has very small holes or veining that looks like small cracks, but is just part of the stone. Black leather dye will work very well. Wear gloves.
All of the pieces are cut, fit and pre-assembled. Then they are taken apart and finished. Then they are re-assembled and given a couple of finish coats. Sometimes pieces are assembled and not given more coats. It depends on design and finished look factors.
This particular mantle was finished with polyurethane spray.
mrtrim, I do all of my own designs. I have not done another's design for over twenty years. This includes all of the custom homes I have built or renovated. This designing and actually doing the work includes stone work, tiling, woodwork, interiors, exteriors, metal work, etc. I normally sub out the metal work because I do not have most of the necessary tools to do it properly. The homeowners like to get that special attention to detail so it keeps me busy most of the time.