Giotto is FILA's school and studio range, and the Serie 800 is its taklon round. Taklon is a synthetic filament made to behave like soft natural hair: it takes a point, springs back, and — unlike natural hair — does not swell or go limp when it sits in water, which is exactly what happens to a brush in a classroom.

That is what makes this a sensible brush for a student who is past the cheapest sets but not spending on sable. It points well enough for outlining and detail, holds enough colour for filling a shape, and survives being washed badly, which is more than most brushes at this price manage.

Five sizes are offered — 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 — each sold on its own. A size 4 handles detail and outlines, a 6 or 8 does the majority of a school painting, and the 10 and 12 fill larger shapes without needing a separate flat brush.

The handle is a dark blue lacquered wood, short table length rather than long easel length, printed with the FILA and GIOTTO names, SERIE 800 TAKLON and the size number. The ferrule is bright nickel drawn round to hold the point.

Being a round rather than a flat is the practical part. Press it and you get the width of the head, lift onto the tip and you get a line, so one brush both outlines a shape and fills it — which is why a round is the brush most people should own before they own anything else.

Prices are Rs. 415 for size 4 rising to Rs. 695 for size 12, each listed separately below. Cash on Delivery is available across Pakistan including Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad, and stock, city and delivery charges are confirmed on WhatsApp before dispatch.

Why this product is worth considering