Da Vinci Squirrel wash brushes are excellent quality and are specially designed for mop and wash techniques. The thick base of Russian blue squirrel hair holds a large volume of water which makes it great for laying down softly textured washes of watercolor or gouache. The oval shape offers the perfect combination of a flattened ferrule and oval tapering. It has a short black polished handle and a rust-resistant silver ferrule. Brushes are handmade in Germany at the da Vinci family owned factory since 1890.