We recently purchased a beautiful dark wood dining table with patchwork inlays. We do NOT want to cover with pads or tablecloths. Is there something equivalent to a gymnasium finish that we could put on the table that would not ruin it but allow us to use it without scratching the surface?

No matter what finish that you put on your table, you are going to need to maintain it if you are going to be placing as well as scooting any sort of objects on it. The finishes are going to get scratched if they are going to be used. But, not necessarily the wood.

What sort of look is it that you would like to have for the finish? There are a number of them from which you could choose: Dull, Satin, Semi-gloss and Gloss. These types of sheens can be obtained with a number of different types of finishing materials - oils, lacquer, polyurethanes and epoxies - it does depend on how tough you want the finish to be and how beautiful you want it to be. You can even have a grain for the finish if you would like.

But, I do want to repeat here that, no matter what type of finish it is that you choose for your table, you are going to have to maintain it. That is just something normal to do for furniture, especially a dining room table, that gets used on a regular basis.

What type of look is it that you are desiring for your table? You say that it is a dark wood. What kind of wood is it, specifically, please?

One of the things that I do for a living is that I am a professional furniture refinisher. Have been doing that since about 1979.