This Conté à Paris Carré Crayon x 12 Set of Assorted Traditional Colours makes a great introduction to these premium-quality crayons. Conté Carré crayons are oblong sticks of kaolin and pigment, between the hardness of a soft pastel and the stickiness of an oil pastel. Originally formulated in the late 18th century, they are excellent sketching tools, producing broad strokes with their edges or tips (which can be sharpened with a sanding pad) and areas of colour when used flat. The Conté à Paris Carré Crayon x 12 Set of Assorted Traditional Colours contains a selection of black, grey, white, sanguine and sepia colours.