Is protective finish without darkening possible? (Recycled Pine coffee table)

[NorthernBeaches]

Hi all - hoping for some finishing advice please.

We recently bought a nice coffee table, made from old recycled pine (or so it said on the product description), and we're pretty sure it has no finish on it (although I think it has a hint of something waxy - but I know nothing about timber - it could just be the way recycled/untreated pine feels - sorry!). The shop manager told us it had no finish, and that they didn't treat it because they didn't want to spoil the rustic feel and light colour of the pine - which we love and would love to keep.

My question is - is there a finishing product (wax, stain, varnish etc) or treatment we can use to give the table some/minimal protection while ensuring it does not darken the pine?

We know that any finish would be absorbed by the wood and would darken it (as would a drop of water on the surface) - but are hoping there's some way we can achieve some minimal protection without darkening/changing the colour of the table. We would use coasters for glasses so we just want to protect from the odd spill (which would be wiped up pretty quickly!) and the odd accidental water ring.

Thank you

[RETIRED]

Haymes Paint: Simply Woodcare Aqualac Floor Finish

Pine will naturally colour with sunlight, no light or any light.

[Master Splinter]

How about a sheet of glass over it? With that surface texture, it'll be a grot magnet in no time!

Failing that, dewaxed white shellac - U-Beaut Polishes - WHITE SHELLAC

[NorthernBeaches]

Thanks and Master Splinter.

Master, glass top is last resort, and issue with white shellac is: "This polish will not darken the colour of the timber it is applied to any more than putting water on to the timber would." this is precisely what we're trying to avoid.

Doesn't wax simply sit on the surface and therefore darken the wood less than shellac/water would???

Thank you.

[RETIRED]

The bottom line is that the timber will darken whether you put any finish (including a glass top) or not.

[NorthernBeaches]

Why does that happen? Is it just a result of the natural ageing of wood (pine specifically?)?
Also, do you know whether wax would darken the timber less than something "wet"?
We accept darkening is inevitable, just looking to minimise the effect.
Thank you.

[Master Splinter]

Wax will build up and darken the finish over time; it's not a 'one coat and it's done' finish - it's the sort of thing that has to be maintained with reapplication.

Timber will also darken naturally (unless it's in direct sunlight, in which case it will bleach), and of course, unfinished timber will suck up any red wine/tea/coffee drips like a sponge as well as picking up its own 'oil' finish from any fatty foods/biscuit crumbs that end up on it.

Sheet of glass.