Description

Historical treasures rediscovered

For 145 years Schmincke represents finest artists‘ colours. Founded in 1881 by colour chemists Hermann Schmincke and Josef Horadam, it remains their mission and proud tradition to inspire artists worldwide with the highest quality colours. With their annual retro promotion, they are reviving the colour history of the 1930s: selected historical pigments, classic paint sets and exquisite collector‘s items combine tradition, craftsmanship and timeless aesthetics. Discover special editions, a piece of Schminckes history for your studio, collection and creative inspiration.

‘Retro II’ special edition single paint tubes:

Gamboge Gum (210) 15 ml tube:

• Intense, transparent glazing yellow.
• Good lightfastness.
• Originally extracted from the resin of the Southeast Asian gutta tree.
• Known in Europe since the 17th century, frequently used in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Original pigment toxic, now replaced by synthetic and lightfast pigments.
• Popular for bright coatings and highlights.

Solferino (375) 15ml tube:

• Semi-transparent, intense magenta.
• Good lightfastness.
• Originally made from synthetic aniline dye.
• Discovered in 1858 after the Battle of Solferino – namesake.
• One of the first tar dyes, symbolising both modernity and progress.
• Originally popular for textiles and painting.
• These days, replaced by lightfaster organic pigments with a similar purple tone.

Cassler Brown (675) 15ml tube:

• Warm, semi-transparent brown tone from brown coal (NBr8).
• Good lightfastness.
• Already known in the 16th century, widespread from the 17th to 19th centuries.
• Popular pigment until the 1960s.
• Replaced since the 1970s by more resistant, similarly glazing pigments.
• Hardly available anymore in art supplies.
• Appreciated by van Dyck, Rembrandt, Rubens.
• Recognisable in historical paintings as a warm, transparent brown, often mixed with gold ochre.

‘Retro II’ special edition watercolour sets:

Jan Wellem Retro 6 x 5ml:

Metal box with six colours in 5 ml tubes and historical Jan Wellem print on the inside lid and historical owl on the outside lid. Includes all three special colours Solferine, Gamboge gum and Cassler brown. Jan Wellem, actually Johann Wilhelm II of the Palatinate (1658-1716), Elector of the Palatinate, who lived from 1658 to 1716 and made Düsseldorf a cultural centre, was known for his magnificent court, his promotion of art and culture and his populist manner, which earned him the nickname ‘Jan Wellem’. This is probably why the art-loving Elector was the inspiration for the Horadam watercolour travel case of the 1930s. The box has been reissued according to the historical original and turned it into a collector’s treasure with two special prints. Colours: Gamboge Gum (210), Solferino (375), Cobalt Blue Light (487), Yellow Ochre (655), English Venetian Red (649), Cassler Brown (675).

Technical colours: Architect Retro 9 Full Pans:

Based on the old DIN 201 standard, this set contains nine Horadam colours that were once used by architects, technical draughtsmen and cadastral surveyors to produce their technical drawings. An interesting fact: each colour represents a specific construction material and its use (e.g. orange for bronze and wood, purple for cast steel, dark green for light metals or wire coils, and grey for concrete and quarry stone masonry). Anyone who uses these colours for artistic purposes rather than technical ones will immediately notice that all of the selected watercolours are not only very harmonious and versatile when used on their own, but also produce a wide range of other brilliant shades when mixed together. Thus, in addition to its special retro style, this historic box also provides the perfect basis for all applications in modern watercolour painting. Colours: Aureolin Hue (208), Chromium Orange Hue (214), Vermilion (365), Schmincke Violet (476), Ultramarine Finest (494), Chromium Oxide Green Brilliant (511), Olive Green Yellowish (525), Raw Umber (667), Payne‘s grey bluish (787).

Retro Luxury Wooden Box 12 x 5ml:

This HORADAM watercolour luxury box is inspired by historical designs from the 1930s. Made from walnut-stained beech wood with elegant brass fittings, a retro owl print and historical tube labels, it is a precious item for collectors and connoisseurs. The set contains 12 x 5 ml tubes of HORADAM watercolours, including the special shades Gamboge Gum, Solferine and Cassler Brown. It also includes a Limited Edition da Vinci Retro Watercolour Brush #10, made from a blend of synthetic fibres and natural hair, together with a porcelain palette and porcelain paint tray. Completing the set is a Kaweco SPECIAL BRASS 0.9 mm mechanical pencil with exclusive retro engraving, complemented by a historical letter from the management of the time and a retro watercolour chart. Colours: Permanent Chinese White (102), Gamboge Gum (210), Indian yellow (220), Vermilion (365), Solferino (375), Ultramarine Finest (494), Prussian Blue (492), Sap Green (530), Yellow Ochre (655), Burnt Sienna (661), Cassler Brown (675), Ivory Black (780).