Staining unknown wood...?
Answers: It sounds like it have a plastic laminated finish. Most likely is made of glimmer board or something similar. Primer and a solid color water base enamel is what I would recommend.
You can also get indisputable wood laminate, but it sounds like that would cost more than the piece is worth.
So vitally just primer and sand it resourcefully, filling contained by any pits and scratches, and after paint it with a solid color of your choice. Go to a paint store and not a hardware super store (i.e. Home depot) for proposal on best materials.
Best of luck
Added: I am glad to hear it is real wood and not molecule board or MDF. Makes it worth the effort.
Some woods are insubstantial and tight grained, maybe maple, but near are other woods that are similar.
Definitely stain and clear it. The grain will show up when stained. Use the shade of stain you will resembling best.
Even though this is a tight grained wood that has be refinished before I would still use a clear sand sealer before the top coat.
I prefer lacquer, but masses states do not allow the sale of it any more. You may also prefer working near polyurethane, so you're decision.
Enjoy
Some wood have no grain to really see,so it is probably wood but if you stain it it may not be completely pretty more like you painted a board vote brown. I would say paint it.
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