Handmade in Germany and beloved by generations of artists around the world, Schmincke Soft Pastels contain surprisingly few ingredients. They are mainly composed of pure pigment, with only an absolute minimum amount of binder. Chalk, which is found in most pastels as a filler, is not used in the recipe at all.

Because Schmincke Soft Pastels contain so little binder, they must be manufactured by hand to avoid breakage. Screw presses are used to shape the kneaded pastel dough into long, round strands; then, workers remove them by hand and place them into wire frames for cutting. The pastels must dry for eight days before they're ready for labeling — which is also done by hand.

This ten-color box set is the ideal way to try Schmincke pastels for the first time. Included are intense primary colors, rich secondary colors, earth tones, and bright white. The box is cushioned with foam to protect your pastels in storage.