Why did sprayed lacquer replace French polish on much commercial furniture?

In the commercial furniture industry, sprayed lacquer largely replaced French polish—the traditional finish used through the Victorian period and into the 1930s—due to its superior durability and efficiency.1

Unlike French polish, modern lacquers are applied via spraying, which offers significant advantages for mass production. These finishes are notably harder, making them practically mark-free, and they provide essential resistance to both heat and water. These properties made them a more practical and resilient choice for commercial furniture compared to the more labor-intensive and less durable traditional methods.1