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Quick answer
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 $$$ band ($20–75). The paint is pigment and gum arabic, made in Japan without ox-gall.
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Twelve 5 ml tubes, 60 ml of paint. Drawn in proportion; paint tints are representative.
Product facts
Product
Holbein Artists' Watercolor set of 12, 5 ml tubes (W401)
12 artist watercolors in 5 ml tubes: pigment and gum arabic, no ox-gall (Holbein, Cass Art)
Price range
$$$$20–75 per item
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Notes on these facts
Made by Holbein Works, Ltd. (Osaka). Made in Japan: Blick's Holbein Artists' Watercolors page and Cass Art's W401 page (read October 23, 2026) say the paints are made in Japan. Holbein's Japanese shop page for W401 doesn't state a country. Source. Price: example listing.
Price bands are typical US retail, checked October 2026. Conversions to US dollars are approximate, at October 2026 rates (US$1 = ¥158 = ₩1,330 = NT$32.5 = CN¥6.7 = SEK 9.9 = DKK 6.7 = ₺49.6 = C$1.41 = A$1.43 = CZK 21.7; €1 = US$1.12; £1 = US$1.32; CHF 1 = US$1.21).
Key takeaways
W401 holds twelve 5 ml (0.17 fl oz) tubes, 60 ml of paint, from Crimson Lake to Chinese White.
Holbein's Japanese shop lists it as order number 3401, JAN 4900669034018, at ¥2,970 (about US$19) with tax.
Holbein says the paint is pigment and gum arabic, with lightfast pigments and high transparency; Blick and Cass Art say it has no ox-gall.
Blick says Holbein Artists' Watercolors were first introduced in the 1920s and are made in Japan.
The set had 500 Amazon US ratings on October 23, 2026, at 4.8 stars.
What is the Holbein Artists’ Watercolor W401?
It’s Holbein’s 12-color starter set of its professional transparent watercolors, in 5 ml tubes. Holbein Works of Osaka, Japan, sells it as W401, order number 3401.
Holbein describes the paint as pigment and gum arabic, with carefully chosen lightfast pigments, strong color and high transparency. Blick says Holbein Artists’ Watercolors were first introduced in the 1920s.
Holbein W401 specs
Spec
Value
Maker
Holbein Works, Ltd. (Osaka, Japan)
Set
W401, order no. 3401 (Amazon part 003401)
Contents
12 colors in 5 ml (0.17 fl oz) tubes
Total paint
60 ml (2 fl oz)
Binder
Gum arabic; no ox-gall (Holbein, Blick)
Japan list price
¥2,970 (about US$19) with tax
UK price
£28.50 (about US$38) at Cass Art
Barcode
JAN 4900669034018
Price band (US)
$$$ ($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 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.
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.
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.
