--- title: "Holbein Artists' Watercolor W401: The 12-Tube Set" canonical: "https://stationerytimes.com/guides/holbein-artists-watercolor-w401/" description: "Holbein Artists' Watercolor W401 explained: twelve 5 ml tubes, the colors inside, gum arabic with no ox-gall, its Japanese list price, US price band and origin." category: "Accessories" type: "Watercolor set" published: 2026-10-23 updated: 2026-10-23 author: "Ellis Penhale" publisher: "Stationery Times" sources: 5 products: - name: "Holbein Artists' Watercolor set of 12, 5 ml tubes (W401)" brand: "Holbein" brand_origin: "Japan" made_in: "Japan" material: "12 artist watercolors in 5 ml tubes: pigment and gum arabic, no ox-gall (Holbein, Cass Art)" price_band: "$$$ ($20–75 per item, typical US retail, October 2026)" manufacturer: "Holbein Works, Ltd. (Osaka)" model: "W401" mpn: "003401" gtin: "4900669034018" url: "https://shop.holbein.co.jp/products/set-w401" --- # Holbein Artists' Watercolor W401: The 12-Tube Set > The Holbein Artists' Watercolor W401 is Holbein's 12-color set of professional watercolors in 5 ml tubes, 60 ml of paint in all. Holbein's Japanese shop lists it at ¥2,970 (about US$19); in the US it sits in our $$$ band ($20–75). The paint is pigment and gum arabic, made in Japan without ox-gall. - URL: https://stationerytimes.com/guides/holbein-artists-watercolor-w401/ - Category: Accessories - Author: Ellis Penhale - Published: 2026-10-23 - Updated: 2026-10-23 ![Holbein Artists' Watercolor W401 set drawn in proportion: an open box of twelve 5 ml tubes and a swatch card of the twelve colors](https://stationerytimes.com/images/raster/holbein-artists-watercolor-w401-16x9.png) *Twelve 5 ml tubes, 60 ml of paint. Drawn in proportion; paint tints are representative.* Original drawing (SVG): . Drawings © 2026 Stationery Times, reusable with credit under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). ## Product facts | Product | Brand | Brand origin | Made in | Material | Released | Price range (typical US retail, October 2026) | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Holbein Artists' Watercolor set of 12, 5 ml tubes (W401) | Holbein (by Holbein Works, Ltd. (Osaka)) | Japan | Japan | 12 artist watercolors in 5 ml tubes: pigment and gum arabic, no ox-gall (Holbein, Cass Art) | – | $$$: $20–75 per item | - Made in (Holbein Artists' Watercolor set of 12, 5 ml tubes (W401)): Japan. Blick's Holbein Artists' Watercolors page and Cass Art's W401 page (read October 23, 2026) say the paints are made in Japan. Holbein's Japanese shop page for W401 doesn't state a country. Source: https://www.dickblick.com/products/holbein-artists-watercolors/ ## Key takeaways - W401 holds twelve 5 ml (0.17 fl oz) tubes, 60 ml of paint, from Crimson Lake to Chinese White. - Holbein's Japanese shop lists it as order number 3401, JAN 4900669034018, at ¥2,970 (about US$19) with tax. - Holbein says the paint is pigment and gum arabic, with lightfast pigments and high transparency; Blick and Cass Art say it has no ox-gall. - Blick says Holbein Artists' Watercolors were first introduced in the 1920s and are made in Japan. - The set had 500 Amazon US ratings on October 23, 2026, at 4.8 stars. ## What is the Holbein Artists' Watercolor W401? **It's Holbein's 12-color starter set of its professional transparent watercolors, in 5 ml tubes.** Holbein Works of Osaka, Japan, sells it as W401, order number 3401. Holbein describes the paint as pigment and gum arabic, with carefully chosen lightfast pigments, strong color and high transparency. Blick says Holbein Artists' Watercolors were first introduced in the 1920s. ## Holbein W401 specs | Spec | Value | |---|---| | Maker | Holbein Works, Ltd. (Osaka, Japan) | | Set | W401, order no. 3401 (Amazon part 003401) | | Contents | 12 colors in 5 ml (0.17 fl oz) tubes | | Total paint | 60 ml (2 fl oz) | | Binder | Gum arabic; no ox-gall (Holbein, Blick) | | Japan list price | ¥2,970 (about US$19) with tax | | UK price | £28.50 (about US$38) at Cass Art | | Barcode | JAN 4900669034018 | | Price band (US) | $$$ ($20–75) | | Made in | Japan (Blick, Cass Art) | Holbein doesn't publish the box size or a tube length, so the cover is drawn in proportion. ![The twelve colors in the Holbein W401 set as swatches with names, from Crimson Lake to Chinese White](https://stationerytimes.com/images/holbein-artists-watercolor-w401-colors.svg) *The W401 palette in Holbein's order (tints representative).* ## Which colors are in the W401 set? **Twelve basic colors: a warm and a cool red, two yellows, two greens, two blues, two browns, black and white.** Holbein Japan and Cass Art list the same set. | Family | Colors | |---|---| | Reds | Crimson Lake, Vermilion Hue | | Yellows | Yellow Ochre, Permanent Yellow Light | | Greens | Permanent Green No. 1, Viridian Hue | | Blues | Cobalt Blue Hue, Prussian Blue | | Earths | Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber | | Neutrals | Ivory Black, Chinese White | In paint names, "Hue" usually marks a color mixed to imitate a traditional pigment, so Vermilion Hue, Viridian Hue and Cobalt Blue Hue are not the original pigments. Chinese White is the white used for highlights and tints. ## Is Holbein watercolor artist grade? **Yes: Holbein sells it as a professional transparent watercolor.** It says the paint gives vivid color, strong tinting and high transparency, mixes widely, and soaks into paper only moderately. Blick and Cass Art add that Holbein uses no ox-gall or other dispersing agents. They say this gives more control over how the pigment spreads, a handling they tie to traditional Japanese watercolor technique. ## Is W401 a good first set? **For a beginner who wants artist-grade paint, yes: Holbein's own beginner guide recommends starting with a 12-color tube set.** Holbein says a set of basic colors makes it easy to get a feel for watercolor. At 5 ml, the tubes are small, so the set suits learning and travel rather than large paintings. Holbein sells bigger sets, such as the 18-color W403 and 24-color W405, and single colors in larger tubes. ## How does it compare with other watercolor sets? **It is artist-grade paint in tubes, against student paint in a pocket box or Japanese pans.** | | Holbein W401 | [Schmincke HORADAM 12](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/schmincke-horadam-metal-box-12/) | [Cotman Sketchers' Pocket](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/winsor-newton-cotman-sketchers-pocket-set/) | [Kuretake Gansai Tambi](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/kuretake-gansai-tambi/) | |---|---|---|---|---| | Grade | Artist | Artist | Student | Traditional Japanese | | Format | 12 × 5 ml tubes | 12 half pans in a metal box | Half pans in a pocket box | Pans | | Price band | $$$ | $$$$ | $$$ | $$$ | Our [best watercolor sets](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/best-watercolor-sets/) roundup names W401 its best tube set. Holbein's opaque sister paint is covered in our [Holbein Artists' Gouache](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/holbein-artists-gouache/) guide. ## How should you use tube watercolors? **Squeeze a little into a palette, let it dry and rewet it with a damp brush, as Cass Art suggests.** That wastes less paint than squeezing fresh color every session. Use proper watercolor paper, such as an [Arches watercolor block](https://stationerytimes.com/guides/arches-watercolor-block/), so washes stay flat. ## Where is Holbein watercolor made? **In Japan: Blick and Cass Art both say Holbein Artists' Watercolors are made there.** Holbein Works is based in Osaka. Holbein's Japanese shop page for W401 doesn't state a country, so the origin here comes from those retailers. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is Holbein watercolor good for beginners? Yes: Holbein's own beginner article recommends starting with a 12-color tube set and shows the W401. It says the basic colors make it easy to get a feel for watercolor. ### What colors are in the Holbein W401 set? Crimson Lake, Vermilion Hue, Yellow Ochre, Permanent Yellow Light, Permanent Green No. 1, Viridian Hue, Cobalt Blue Hue, Prussian Blue, Burnt Sienna, Burnt Umber, Ivory Black and Chinese White, per Holbein Japan and Cass Art. ### Is Holbein professional-quality watercolor paint? Yes. Holbein calls it a professional transparent watercolor made from carefully chosen pigments and gum arabic, with good lightfastness and high transparency. ### Does Holbein watercolor contain ox-gall? No. Blick and Cass Art both say Holbein Artists' Watercolors are made without ox-gall or other dispersing agents, which they say gives more control over how the pigment spreads. ### How much paint is in the Holbein W401? Twelve 5 ml (0.17 fl oz) tubes, 60 ml in all. Holbein also sells 18-, 24- and larger sets, such as the W403 (18 colors) and W405 (24 colors). ### Can you put Holbein tube watercolor in a palette? Yes. Cass Art suggests squeezing the tubes into palette wells, letting the paint dry and rewetting it when you need it. ### Is Holbein watercolor made in Japan? Yes. Blick says Holbein Artists' Watercolors are made in Japan, and Holbein Works is based in Osaka. ## Sources - [ホルベイン公式オンラインショップ: 透明水彩絵具 5ml 12色セット W401 (order no. 3401, JAN 4900669034018, ¥2,970 with tax; pigment and gum arabic, lightfast, transparent, soaks into paper moderately; read October 23, 2026)](https://shop.holbein.co.jp/products/set-w401) - [ホルベイン: 透明水彩絵具の始め方 (Holbein Japan beginner guide: start with a 12-color tube set)](https://shop.holbein.co.jp/blogs/features/getting-started-transparent-watercolors-4-essential-tools) - [Blick: Holbein Artists' Watercolors (ultra-fine pigments and gum arabic, free of ox-gall, made in Japan, first introduced in the 1920s; Set of 12, 5 ml tubes)](https://www.dickblick.com/products/holbein-artists-watercolors/) - [Cass Art: Holbein Watercolour Assorted Colours 5ml Set of 12 (MPN W401; the 12 colors; made in Japan; no synthetic polymers or ox-gall; excellent lightfastness; £28.50)](https://cassart.co.uk/holbein-watercolour-assorted-colours-5ml-set-of-12/) - [Amazon US: Holbein Artist's Watercolors Set of 12 5ml Tubes W401 (part number 003401; 500 ratings, 4.8 stars on October 23, 2026)](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000WD5WS0)