Paintbrushes were used by man as early as the Paleolithic era in around 2.5 million years ago in order to apply pigment.

[1] Old painting kits, estimated to be around 100,000 years old, were discovered in a cave in what is now modern South Africa.

[2] Ancient Egyptian paintbrushes were made of split palm leaves and used by ancestors to beautify their surroundings.

Decorators' brush sizes are given in millimeters (mm) or inches (in), which refers to the width of the head.

A chiseled brush permits the painter to cut into tighter corners and paint more precisely.

Natural hair, squirrel, badger or sable are used by watercolorists due to their superior ability to absorb and hold water.

The wood is sealed and lacquered to give the handle a high-gloss, waterproof finish that reduces soiling and swelling.