I'm glad you're thinking about it to such a degree; it shows respect for the piece and whatever craftsmanship it possesses.
I would just clean it, stain if necessary, and leave it be. Unless there's a good reason to do otherwise, it's always best to have the original finish if you can manage it.
BTW, it could be mahogany. In any case, it's dark hardwood, looks to be 1930s. A nice piece, and it's good that you're thinking of passing it down.