This type of faux woodgrain has been used historically in both traditional canal boat decoration and some cars as fake wood trim on dashboards etc.
The use of this kind of surface fakery is not confined to wood - I am aware the apparently marble with its decorative graining has been applied by brush to plaster.
I have also, with rather less skill, applied a stone finish (alabaster) to an MDF fireplace surround courtesy of a B&Q rattle can. Fairly convincing until you get close!!
In fact there seems to be a theme in this - the continual and increasing replacement of expensive materials by some kind of surface treatment - veneer on cheap and plentiful wood being an early example.