It remains a desirable finish today for the same reason it was favored by the ancients and every generation of woodworkers in between.
Milk paint is quick, easy and forgiving.
It results in a rich, lustrous and complex finish that improves with time. Still, it can be applied in an afternoon. Milk paint is not difficult to use, but it is different from regular paint. And to get the best results, you need to understand those differences. Milk paint does not chip like regular paint, nor does it produce the boring, perfectly uniform color of modern products.