A Harbin Kolinsky red sable watercolour round with an extra-sharp point — real sable at a lower price than the Maestro.
The Series 1526Y is da Vinci's watercolour round in Harbin Kolinsky red sable, sourced from the Tobol and Ussuri river regions of Siberia and made in Germany at Defet GmbH in Nuremberg. The long, tapering hair comes to an extra-sharp point, holds a lot of water and springs back cleanly, so a single load carries you through a long wash or a fine line. The hair is cut a little shorter than the Maestro Series 10, giving a slightly firmer, more controlled feel in the hand. Gold ferrules and translucent anthracite handles. It is the accessible way into genuine Kolinsky: a real sable round without the flagship price.
What makes this brush special
Pure Harbin Kolinsky red sable, made in Germany. Long tapering belly with an extra-sharp point, strong water-holding and reliable spring; the slightly shorter hair versus the Maestro Series 10 gives a touch more control. We stock sizes 3/0 to 12.
Medium compatibility
Watercolour
Smooth flow for washes, controlled lines and fine points.
Gouache
Handles opaque water-based paint when thinned to a brush-friendly consistency.
Ink
Good for fluid inks; clean promptly after use.
Great for
Watercolour and gouache, from broad washes to fine detail
Sketching and illustration
Rendering and animation work
Painters who want genuine Kolinsky point and spring without Maestro pricing
Technique & use
Wash Application
Glazing & Blending
General Painting
Less ideal for
Heavy scrubbing or drybrushing on rough surfaces — it wears natural sable down fast
Acrylics left to dry in the hair, which is hard to recover
Work in solvents, which strips the natural oils from the sable
Click a row to select sizeTap a row · Swipe for price & stock →
Units/
Size
Tuft Length
Belly Diameter
Price
Stock
3/0
6.0 mm
0.9 mm
$9.96
In Stock
2/0
6.5 mm
0.9 mm
$9.96
In Stock
0
7.0 mm
0.9 mm
$10.29
In Stock
1
7.5 mm
1.1 mm
$10.29
Sold Out
2
10.0 mm
1.5 mm
$12.22
In Stock
3
12.5 mm
1.85 mm
$14.46
In Stock
4
14.0 mm
2.35 mm
$16.39
In Stock
5
16.0 mm
2.7 mm
$20.09
In Stock
6
18.0 mm
3.3 mm
$24.76
In Stock
8
22.0 mm
4.7 mm
$42.93
In Stock
10
26.0 mm
6.0 mm
$89.73
In Stock
12
30.0 mm
6.9 mm
$137.19
In Stock
Brush sizes are not standardised across brands — a Size 1 from one maker may differ from another. These brushes are handcrafted, so individual dimensions may vary by 1–2 mm.
How we measure a brushA visual guide to the measurements shown in the size chart above.
These are the same measurements shown in the size chart above. Brush sizes are not standardised across brands, so use these dimensions when comparing brushes within a series or between manufacturers.
Tuft Length
The visible length of the brush hairs, measured from the ferrule to the tip.
Belly Diameter
The widest point of the brush head. On round brushes, this is the widest part of the belly.
Total Length
The full measurement from the tip of the brush to the end of the handle.
How to care for your brush
Rinse fully between colours and never leave it standing on its point in water. Wash with a brush soap or conditioner, reshape the point while damp, and let it dry flat or tip-up. Kept clean, natural Kolinsky holds its point for years.