Acid cured, or catalyzed lacquer is acrylic modified lacquer. It is cured by the chemical reaction of the acid/catalyst rather than the traditional air dried method. This give the lacquer additional durability, heat and chemical resistance. It is often used on kitchen cabinets. The M.L. Campbell web site has some comparisons of different lacaquer finishes.

Here is a link that might be useful: M.L. Campbell

Catalyzed lacquer is very common and widely used.

So is this a good thing to go for if you don't want the room reeking of chemicals when the furniture is delivered? I remember a query here or maybe on the Cleaning forum about a coffee table (I think) that was still smelling. Round the same time we went to a really nice shop that manufactures locally and it was so obvious they'd just had new stock delivered. So between that and some other stuff that came up we postponed our furniture shopping. I'd really like to get something good quality that I don't have to worry about airing out.

Thank you for the link. Silly me. My knowledge up till now was shellac - oldfashioned, polyurethane - what they use on budget pine furniture round here, oil - everything else.

If you want something already aired out then stick to floor samples. You'll have an added benefit of a floor sample discount, too.