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Identity of these old watercolours?

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Shahrzade Vahida

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Hi, Can anyone help me identify the origin of this old box of watercolours? I found them second-hand, unused; the box is marked "Made in England" but there's no brand name. I'd like to use them, but would like to know if colours are still available in this unusual shape, so that I can replace them when they're used up. Thanks in advance, Alicia
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Never seen those before - I wonder if the stars printed on them are on all of them, and if they're not, whether they're indicators of permanence.... I take it there's nothing on the lid of the tin that could identify them, no logo or anything similar? A greyhound would indicate Reeves, for instance. I don't know of any contemporary maker of watercolour pans who sell them in this shape, but you could of course fill the pans from watercolour tubes; and the tin itself looks useful, with plenty of space for mixing. In your place, I'd use the paints for sketching if I could learn nothing further about them - or subject them to your own lightfastness tests: paint a strip of each colour on paper, doesn't matter what sort of paper; put half of it in a drawer, and the other half in the window where it'll receive abundant UV light, and leave it there for 3 to 6 months before comparing it with your master strip. I do that with most watercolour paints anyway, because manufacturers' ratings aren't always reliable.

Sylvia Evans

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There are various sites you can look at on line with pictures of vintage paints with various embossing on them . ( I have just looked at some ). It seems a shame to actually use these paints as they are so old and possibly rare...though I don't actually know that. If they were mine I would do some research and find out about them then treasure them ,and buy a new box of modern paints to use .

Alan Bickley

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Any well-known manufacturer will always put his branding on the box. These also remind me of the cheap paints that we had as children, rock hard and very thin if I'm not mistaken. No, you won't be able to replace them, watercolours aren't made in that shape, they come in pans and half-pans plus tubes, look on Jackson's website if you're not sure what I mean. To sum up, they are poor quality, not made by any known manufacturer and you won't be able to paint much at all with them, take Syd's advice, put them away and start afresh.
our Lady2

Jim Morris

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Just a view. Can't see a problem personally. Unless what you paint is going in the Royal Academy or like on exhibition, paints are paints, ie for painting with. Use them up then utilise the useful looking paintbox. Unless you try them out you'll never know what they are, and at the end of day you'll have an old tin of old paints that serves no useful purpose as they get older still. They'll still be a tin of watercolours come what may. Mind you, if you should see the initials, J.S.S, or W.R.F, or even J.M.W.T, on the tin, get down to the British museum rather quickly and tell them you're contacting Sothebys..😆

Shahrzade Vahida

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Thanks everyone for your comments and advice. While I certainly don't have to worry too much about preserving my watercolour pictures for posterity, I think I'll put these aside for the moment, at least until I found out more about them. I do have a box of 21st century watercolours, with all the requisite qualities, but I've always had a weakness for old stuff...
With Sarah, Phil, Ellen, Rose the dentist, and the granddaughter whose name I forget.

Robert Jones, NAPA

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Looking more closely, the stars are embossed on all of them, so it's nothing to do with quality or lightfastness. And they do look - the lighters colours anyway - as if the colour has turned crystalline, which will make it pretty useless. I'd still have a go with them, just to see what they'll do. Go on, have a play.....