Natural squirrel quill mop for large watercolour washes. Classic French craftsmanship.
The Raphael Kazan 803 is a traditional squirrel quill mop brush, representing one of the most classic French brush forms. Natural squirrel hair is bound in a quill rather than a metal ferrule, giving the brush its characteristic bulbous shape and extraordinary softness.
Quill mops are the watercolourist's tool for large, flowing washes where softness and capacity are everything. The Kazan 803 holds an enormous volume of water and pigment, releasing it in smooth, gentle strokes without streaks or hard edges. It is a specialist tool — not for detail work, but irreplaceable for atmospheric skies, backgrounds, and wet-in-wet passages.
What makes this brush special
Natural squirrel hair in a traditional quill binding. Extreme softness and paint capacity — holds enormous volumes. No hard edge or spring — purely soft, flowing application. Classic French brush form trusted by watercolourists for generations.
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
Large watercolour washes: skies, backgrounds, atmospheric passages
Wet-in-wet techniques where absolute softness prevents disturbing underlayers
Charging large areas of paper with water
Watercolourists who want a premium, traditional wash tool
Technique & use
Wash Application
Glazing & Blending
General Painting
Less ideal for
Any kind of detail work or precise mark-making
Miniature painting or small-scale work
Thick paints, oils, or acrylics
Painters on a tight budget — premium natural squirrel is an investment
Size chart coming soon — variant dimensions not yet populated for this series.
How to care for your brush
Rinse very gently after each session — squirrel hair is delicate. Never scrub or press hard. Clean with mild brush soap if needed. Reshape and store in a brush roll, never crushed. The quill binding is more delicate than metal ferrules. Avoid solvents entirely. With gentle care, natural squirrel brushes last many years.
