Civet hair

From CAMEO
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Lesser Indian Civet

Description

Long, coarse hair obtained from civet cats (family Vivarridae) that are native to Africa, southern Europe, and Asia. The black and white civet hair is strong, straighter, and more resilient than Skunk hair. Civet hair was once used for Paint and Varnish brushes but has since been replaced by synthetic fibers. In 2004, the U.S. banned the importation of civets as potential disease carriers.

Civet hair

Synonyms and Related Terms

Vivarridae; civet cat hair; desmerdyr (Dan.); Schleichkatzen (Deut.); viverridés (Fr.); civetkatachtigen (Ned.); civeta (Port.)

Resources and Citations

  • Zora Sweet Pinney, 'A Handle on the Terms used for Artists' Brushes', unpublished glossary, 1999