Da Vinci Brushes ®

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About Da Vinci Brushes


"We are very interested in the life of our brushes, which are often cared for until only the last tuft of hair remains. They live a life full of work and color. Being in regular contact with the requirements of artists is something we particularly enjoy. In our gallery, open for over 40 years to young painters from all over Europe, we often experience vivid discussions about bold painting techniques and technical methods of working. We always try to come out of these discussions with new ideas for our brush production. Leonardo da Vinci is the ideal for the quality of our brushes which is based on the rich experiences the brush factories in Nuremberg have had for many generations, and which I have gratefully taken over from my grandfather and father." Hans-Friedrich Defet

For three generations, Da Vinci has created the highest quality artist and specialty brushes. Today, the business offers the largest selection of artist brushes in the world. Each brush is crafted with pride to Da Vinci's exacting standards. Using the finest raw materials available, skilled brushmakers draw on centuries-old wisdom and input from contemporary professional artists. Utilizing the latest technical innovations, they create brushes of unsurpassed beauty, quality, and endurance.

Hans-Friedrich Defet was well-educated in the traditions of brushmaking, learning from both his grandfather and father the history of brushmaking in Nuremberg, Germany. Until the end of the 17th century, each artist had to make his own painting tools. During the 18th century, an ambitious crafts guild started to master the art of brush binding, relieving the artist of this burden. As this guild increased its expertise through experience and experimentation, the young trade was soon booming in the commercial town of Nuremberg. The city soon gained a worldwide reputation for brushmaking.

As time progressed, Da Vinci brushes gained a reputation as the leader in quality brushmaking. Mr. Defet had an ideal for his brushes - properly made, a natural hair brush should have excellent colour holding capacity, a lively elasticity, and should quickly regain the original shape the brushmaker formed when new paint is absorbed. These features result in a highly precise, elastic instrument. This performance has made Da Vinci the first choice among accomplished artists. By selecting only the finest quality hair, the brush can be used delicately or aggressively and gives the artist optimum results whether he is a realist painter or an abstractionist. Selecting the right hair is of the utmost importance for this flexibility.

At the beginning of the new millennium, Da Vinci began building a new factory from the ground up. It is the most modern brush factory in the world today.

In the sun-filled rooms of the Da Vinci factory, production masters, interns, and apprentices sit at their marble working tables learning the skills of brushmaking. Visitors to the facility often express surprise at the calm atmosphere not usually found in a "factory." They often compare it to a laboratory or studio, as the silence of concentration prevails, interrupted only by occasional consultation and conversation.

In 2006, Da Vinci once again invested in its Nürnberg factory, to reinforce its founding “Made in Germany” principle. Production and administration were reunited under one roof.

There was a time when artist brushes formed the foundations of Da Vinci’s manufacturing program, but today the company meets the needs of customers throughout the world who are looking for quality tools for the most diverse uses in a variety of businesses and disciplines.

The challenge is finding the perfect solutions to ever-changing requests. Not only Da Vinci’s management team but the company’s entire workforce of specialized colleagues look forward to meeting the diverse needs of its customers — thanks to the competence that has grown over generations, the philosophy of the company, and the passion embodied by the entire team.  

Marianne and Hans-Friedrich Defet decided together to transform the vacated rooms in the old Da Vinci factory into an Atelier and Gallery House. In this gallery, Da Vinci continues to welcome all styles of contemporary art, including vanguard projects and experimental shows, creating a thought-provoking environment.