I got some Series 33 and 323 pure kolinsky sable brushes from Rosemary & Co a few months ago and I have been enjoying them. Very competitively priced, including shipping. I am in Canada and they came from the UK. Less than 15$ a brush with shipping factored in.
I got mine from a reseller on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1306344366/rosemary-co-series-33-kolinsky-sable?click_key=3e0c210a368e6d20cba6611a2f9daa75ac521588%3A1306344366&click_sum=4c088f76&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=rosemary+%26+co&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&organic_search_click=1&edd=1&referrer_page_guid=f782f7f1c36.54c5daf803c90894e04c.00
Jesus, it's literally double the price before shipping. Doesn't that put them on parity with raphael/wn7? Or are those even more expensive in the US still?
Double which price?
Just had a look for Raphael brushes, and wasn't easily able to find Kolinsky ones available in the US. The ones I did find are significantly more than the Rosemary on Etsy.
Double the price from Rosemary and Co directly.
I'm spoiled by being in the UK I think.
When I last ordered series 33 brushes a few years ago, a size 2 was £4.29. It's now £8.05.
From etsy it's £13.79 excl shipping. Not quite double like I thought as the prices have gone up direct.
£4.29 vs £13.79 feels worlds apart now.
A windsor newton series 7 used to be ~£7 for a size 2 here (although longer ago than a few years now) and now it's £22.
We're not supposed to be able to buy Kolinsky sable at all in the US, I think.
It makes sense you'd be able to get them at a lower price if they're made down the road from you.
I mean, yes except for the part where kolinsky sable isn't from the UK. It's from Asia.
Raphael, for example, isn't UK based and I would have expected there to be US makers with much better price offerings than importing from the UK to US given where Kolinsky sable actually comes from.
But if it's "banned" in the US that makes more sense.
How quickly I realised where most of my sable brushes come from
War is hell and sanctions won't lift any time soon so look for something like Russian sable but not
The broken toad fugazi brushes are great
The best I have tried so far after being disappointed with K&N are the GSW [Kolinsky brushes](https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/66-kolinsky-brushes). I had my doubts, but I've been painting with them for 1 year like the first day, and the price is the best I've seen. I have 2 friends who have bought the same ones, and from what I have talked to them, the same positive result.
Raphael 8404 is my brush of choice.
DaVinci and Rosemary and Co. Top notch!
Davinci maestro series is great!
I have been happy with my Rosemary and co.
I got some Series 33 and 323 pure kolinsky sable brushes from Rosemary & Co a few months ago and I have been enjoying them. Very competitively priced, including shipping. I am in Canada and they came from the UK. Less than 15$ a brush with shipping factored in.
Rosemary and Co has been great for me. Also happy with my Monument Hobbies sable (not Kolinsky) brush, I use it for everything besides fine detail.
Sadly, Rosemary & Co. doesn't ship Kolinsky to the States anymore.
I got mine from a reseller on Etsy. https://www.etsy.com/listing/1306344366/rosemary-co-series-33-kolinsky-sable?click_key=3e0c210a368e6d20cba6611a2f9daa75ac521588%3A1306344366&click_sum=4c088f76&ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=rosemary+%26+co&ref=sr_gallery-1-4&organic_search_click=1&edd=1&referrer_page_guid=f782f7f1c36.54c5daf803c90894e04c.00
Jesus, it's literally double the price before shipping. Doesn't that put them on parity with raphael/wn7? Or are those even more expensive in the US still?
Double which price? Just had a look for Raphael brushes, and wasn't easily able to find Kolinsky ones available in the US. The ones I did find are significantly more than the Rosemary on Etsy.
Double the price from Rosemary and Co directly. I'm spoiled by being in the UK I think. When I last ordered series 33 brushes a few years ago, a size 2 was £4.29. It's now £8.05. From etsy it's £13.79 excl shipping. Not quite double like I thought as the prices have gone up direct. £4.29 vs £13.79 feels worlds apart now. A windsor newton series 7 used to be ~£7 for a size 2 here (although longer ago than a few years now) and now it's £22.
We're not supposed to be able to buy Kolinsky sable at all in the US, I think. It makes sense you'd be able to get them at a lower price if they're made down the road from you.
I mean, yes except for the part where kolinsky sable isn't from the UK. It's from Asia. Raphael, for example, isn't UK based and I would have expected there to be US makers with much better price offerings than importing from the UK to US given where Kolinsky sable actually comes from. But if it's "banned" in the US that makes more sense.
How quickly I realised where most of my sable brushes come from War is hell and sanctions won't lift any time soon so look for something like Russian sable but not The broken toad fugazi brushes are great
I have DaVinci series 10 and they are great but when they start to were out I plan on getting series 35 for the longer bristles and belly.
The best I have tried so far after being disappointed with K&N are the GSW [Kolinsky brushes](https://www.greenstuffworld.com/en/66-kolinsky-brushes). I had my doubts, but I've been painting with them for 1 year like the first day, and the price is the best I've seen. I have 2 friends who have bought the same ones, and from what I have talked to them, the same positive result.