da Vinci Harbin Kolinsky Series 1526Y Round Brush
da Vinci Harbin Kolinsky Series 1526Y Round Brush
Premium Kolinsky red sable watercolour rounds · Short handle · 15 sizes, 3/0 to 20 · Made in Germany
👆 Sold as a single brush — choose your size above
Why painters reach for it
✔️ Harbin Kolinsky red sable — a fine, sharp point with excellent retention.
✔️ Strong but controlled snap — returns cleanly after each stroke without feeling wiry.
✔️ High paint-holding capacity for longer runs and washes without constant reloading.
✔️ Short anthracite lacquered handle with a gold seamless ferrule — traditional fine-art feel and close control.
✔️ Hand-made in Germany, in 15 sizes from 3/0 to 20.
About this series
The da Vinci Harbin Kolinsky series 1526Y is a premium round brush range made from Harbin Kolinsky red sable. It uses a short anthracite lacquered wooden handle and a gold-coloured seamless ferrule, giving it a traditional fine-art feel with precise handling at close range.
It is built for painters who want a strong point, good spring and high paint-holding capacity — a strong choice for watercolour, detail work, glazing and other fluid techniques where control matters. The smaller sizes suit fine linework, miniature detail and illustration; the larger sizes carry enough paint for broader runs and controlled washes.
Compared with the miniature-focused Maestro Series 76, the 1526Y has a broader general-purpose watercolour profile and a much wider size range. Against synthetic lines like Cosmotop-Spin it feels softer, holds more paint and releases more naturally. Because it is natural Kolinsky sable, it rewards careful cleaning — and it is not a brush for drybrushing.
📏 Size guide
Head width by size, to help you pick the right brush. Select your size from the dropdown above.
| Size | Head width (mm) | Typical use |
| 3/0 | 0.9 | Finest detail, eyes, freehand lines |
| 2/0 | 0.9 | Fine detail and linework |
| 0 | 0.9 | Fine detail and linework |
| 1 | 1.1 | Detail, trim, small highlights |
| 2 | 1.5 | Detail and general fine work |
| 3 | 1.85 | General fine work, small areas |
| 4 | 2.35 | All-round detail and base layers |
| 5 | 2.7 | General painting, glazing |
| 6 | 3.3 | General painting, small washes |
| 8 | 4.7 | Washes and broader areas |
| 10 | 6.0 | Washes, larger areas |
| 12 | 6.9 | Large washes, water control |
| 14 | 7.3 | Large washes |
| 16 | 8.2 | Large washes, broad coverage |
| 20 | 9.7 | Broadest coverage, big washes |
Head width is manufacturer-published. Tuft and overall lengths vary by size.
Specifications
| Brand | da Vinci |
| Series | 1526Y — Harbin Kolinsky |
| Hair | Harbin Kolinsky red sable (natural) |
| Shape | Round |
| Handle | Short, anthracite transparent lacquered wood |
| Ferrule | Gold-coloured seamless |
| Sizes | 3/0, 2/0, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 20 |
| Suitable media | Watercolour, gouache, acrylic, oil, ink, mixed media |
| Country of origin | Germany |
Best for
▸ Fine detail and linework in watercolour and illustration
▸ Controlled washes and delicate glazing with a sharp point
▸ Miniature painting and model-making where premium sable is preferred
▸ General fluid painting where paint capacity and tip control both matter
💡 Care & pro tips
▸ Rinse before pigment dries at the ferrule, then wash at the end with lukewarm water and a proper brush soap.
▸ For Kolinsky hair, a conditioning cleaner such as The Masters Brush Cleaner & Preserver, or da Vinci's own brush soap, keeps the point.
▸ Store dry and protected in a roll or sleeve — the short handle and fine point benefit from padded storage.
▸ Don't soak it, don't use hot water, and don't reshape it aggressively with your fingers.
Honest limitations
▸ Not for heavy drybrushing or rough scrubbing — that damages sable hair.
▸ Natural hair, so not a vegan or synthetic option — see da Vinci Cosmotop-Spin if that's what you need.
▸ Premium-priced natural sable, not a cheap all-purpose brush.
▸ For very broad coverage, a flat or a mop is more efficient.
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