Monarch Short Filbert Brushes are flat with an oval tip, they create broad marks with a soft edge. This oval shaped brush combines the control of the short flat with the softer edges of the round. Monarch is a professional synthetic hair brush that mimics the look and feel of natural Mongoose hair (now an endangered species). Just like Mongoose hair, the polyester filaments in Monarch provide a stiffer alternative to sable hair but are softer than hog bristle which means this brush is excellent for subtle blending, glazing and fine detail work. In addition, because Monarch is synthetic it is more durable than natural hair and has more spring making it better for moving heavy bodied oil colour as well as being less prone to damage from solvents or paint. Monarch is suitable for oil colour, water mixable oil colour or acrylic colour painting. It has a distinct appearance with hair that is variegated in shades of ivory, gold, brown and each brush has a gold ferrule attached to a long dark brown lacquered handle.