seeing that you were active a few days ago... bump! any updates?
I'd consider... oak has lots of tannin, right? So you could do the iron rust/vinegar thing. Could google it. I think that'd make the grain pop more than anything else I know. Then you could use leather dye if you wanna give it color, then oil and shellac. That's what I'd do anyway, there's many ways. Satin poly would be easier after the solution and dye and would look great?