da Vinci Series 406 Fan Brush, Ox Hair, Long Handle

da Vinci Series 406 Fan Brush – Ox Hair for Gilding and Texture

The da Vinci series 406 fan brush is an artist's brush made from light brown ox ear hair, used for gilding and texture techniques. The hair is strong and suited to applying gold leaf. The brush is popular for gilding coves, for example on baroque frames.

The hairs are held in a silver ferrule. It grips them firmly on the handle and shapes them into a fan. The long wooden handle sits well in the hand and lets you work with some distance from the piece. Besides gilding, you can use the fan for effects and texture in oil and tempera painting as well as silk and watercolour painting. It suits both fluid and heavy-bodied artists' paints.

Working with the fan brush

For gilding, pick up the gold leaf carefully with the dry, clean hair and lay it in the cove. The fan follows curves and mouldings well. For texture, dab with a little paint or draw the fan across the surface in short strokes, for example for grass, fur or fine gradients. Load only a little paint so that the hairs do not stick together and the fan stays open.

Care

When washed out, the hairs form strands. This is normal: as they dry they come apart again if you lay the brush between two cloths, press lightly and stroke the hair back into its original shape.

da Vinci Series 406 Fan Brush product details

• Manufacturer: da Vinci, series 406
• Shape: fan brush
• Hair: light brown ox ear hair
• Ferrule: silver
• Handle: wood, long
• Use: gilding, texture and effect techniques
• Paints: fluid and heavy-bodied artists' paints