Unlock the Secret to Finding Elusive Kolinsky Sable-Hair Paintbrushes
The Elusive Kolinsky Sable Hair Brush: A Painters’ Quest
In the world of miniature painting, there’s a mystique surrounding brushes made from 100% pure Kolinsky sable hair. This hair, derived from the Siberian weasel, is renowned for its ability to hold a lot of paint and release it smoothly, maintaining a crisp, sharp tip. Perfect for detail work like freehand and edge highlighting, these brushes are highly sought after by painters. However, finding them in stores in the United States can be a challenge.
The Complicated Story Behind Kolinsky Sable Hair Brushes
I recently started calling around to experts in the brush-making industry to learn more about the scarcity of Kolinsky sable hair brushes. That’s when I stumbled upon an international agreement known as the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. This treaty, signed in Geneva, Switzerland in 1973, regulates and monitors the exchange of endangered species and materials derived from endangered species worldwide.
CITES and the Kolinsky Sable Hair Brush
CITES has three sections, each serving a different purpose. Appendix I includes species that are threatened with extinction, such as the black rhino. Appendix II lists species that are not necessarily endangered but whose populations are fragile. Appendix III includes species that are protected in at least one country, and signatories are requesting assistance from their international peers in monitoring or regulating their trade.
The Kolinsky Sable Hair Brush’s CITES Status
The Kolinsky sable hair brush is listed in Appendix III, which means that India, one of the CITES signatories, added it to the list to protect its native species of mongoose. Howard Kaufman, founder of Princeton Artist Brush Company, believes that smugglers were passing off Kolinsky sable hair as mongoose hair, artificially increasing the demand for mongoose. To protect the mongoose, the Indian government closely monitors the trade of Kolinsky sable hair, making it difficult to import.
The Decline of Kolinsky Sable Hair Brushes
Kaufman has had personal experience with the challenges of importing Kolinsky sable hair brushes. He recalls being called in by customs because the German government didn’t fill out a box on the CITES certificate. With the hassle and risk involved, it’s no wonder that the sale of Kolinsky sable-hair brushes is in decline in the US.
Synthetic Brushes: A Viable Alternative
Synthetic brushes have become increasingly popular and have improved significantly in quality. Kaufman notes that it’s challenging to tell the difference between synthetic and natural hair brushes. For everyday painting, synthetics seem to be the most reasonable option.
Conclusion
For myself, I’ll continue to use my existing Kolinsky sable-hair brushes for detailed work, but for everyday painting, synthetics are the way to go. The quest for the elusive Kolinsky sable hair brush may be a challenge, but with the advancements in synthetic brushes, painters have more options than ever before.
Image: The author’s Brutalis Dreadnought, detailed with Kolinsky sable hair brushes.
Caption: Photo: Charlie Hall/Polygon
