Winsor & Newton Bijou Box: My Review After 6 Years Of Ownership

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The Winsor And Newton Bijou box is an exquisite objet d’art, I find pleasure in simply owning this little jewel of a watercolor set. It is made by a UK art supply company and is rather hard to obtain in the USA, so i had this one shipped from London many years ago. If comes with 8, colors of artist grade watercolors. (It is important to note that the pigments in the artist grade line -as opposed to the student grade paints, are vibrant and burst with color)
This is a simple object, it is an enameled metal box will space for 12, 1/2pans of watercolor paint, and a tiny, tiny brush. Thats it. It has no buttons, no lights, and takes no batteries. It’s design hasn’t really changed much in decades, (other than the lid which seems to have only 2 mixing areas now, as opposed to the 4 areas that mine has) the design is perfect as it is, there is no ned to change it. I love this little box.
There is a thumb ring that folds out on the bottom, so you can use it as a tiny little pallet, it has a lid that you mix your paint in, and a very small brush, (which I don’t use much since I use a waterbrush) this is good design and a mature object. There is no where else to go with this design, it is perfect, perfect, perfect.

I love to use it in conjunction with a watercolor Moleskine, and a waterbrush, this is the art trifecta. A perfect set for creativity and inspiration. This is one of those items that I would replace without question if it was ever lost or broken.

-Ezra

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16 comments

  1. Hola.
    Buscando un bolígrafo entre mis recuerdos, encontré una caja igual a la tuya bijou box No. 2 Winsor & Newton, la compre en 1987 cuando entre a la preparatoria y jamás la use ya que me cambie de colegio inmediatamente, he buscado información de ella ya que la quería cambiar por alguna pintura o acuarela pero o encuentro mucho ya que como dices no se vendió en todo el mundo y además tiene mucho tiempo que se cambio por que esta es en verdad de una calidad insuperable.
    Me podrías ayudar a saber cuanto vale.
    Gracias.

    1. I’m rather attached to it, it’s been a companion for several years. I wouldn’t sell it, I’m sorry. I got it from a UK eBay seller that was selling new old stock from a closed up art supply store. I would not be surprised if you could still find some like that on the UK eBay. It’s worth a shot!

      1. Good luck finding one like this. They are collector’s items now. But you can still get the Whiskey painter’s version which is similar.

    2. Hey my friend you can now get this on Amazon there are to places that put this exact pallet out currently, Shimkee and Whiskey Painters! For about $60-$95 hope this helped anyone currently looking for this soon to be obsolete pallette! Hurry!

  2. Hi All,

    I just recently acquired the WN Bijou #3. The logo is not on this box either. However, I do own the more recent Bijou identical to one above with the logo.

    1. I’ve had my eye on the W&N Bijou Box for some time, now. I would really be happy if you consider selling one to me.

  3. I have three of these gorgeous boxes, new version with two mixing areas. Made by same company who made the Windsor and Newton ones. Mine has no name. They are empty, no watercolour pans but they have the small windsor and newton brush. Brand new, never used and excellent quality. You can then add the colours you want.
    If you are interested let me know. I have my one one so i don’t need the other three and i would like to sell them.
    I am in Ireland.
    Many thanks.
    Jess

    1. I’ve had my eye on the W&N Bijou Box for some time, now. I would really be happy if you consider selling one to me.

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