Vintage Grumbacher Finest Soft Pastels Set No 9 - 132 Assortment 2 Stacking Tray For Sale

Vintage Grumbacher Finest Soft Pastels Set No. 9 \"Studio Assortment\". Degas set 132 PastelsUp for sale is a magnificent, mid-century piece of fine art history: aCategory-Defining Vintage Grumbacher Finest Soft Pastels Studio Set No. 9. Highly coveted by professional artists and collectors for their unmatched pigment richness, buttery blending, and smooth application, the \"Finest\" line represents Grumbacher\'s absolute highest tier of historic production.This particular set features a fascinating factory anomaly highly prized by vintage art supply collectors. The exterior labels and inner lid originally read \"Containing 150 Pastels / Set No. 9–150\". However, during a mid-century catalog consolidation, Grumbacher adjusted this master assortment to a 132-color palette. The factory explicitly crossed out the \"150\" markings by hand, updating them to \"132,\" and utilized structural foam side-spacers within the trays to adapt the system to a 132-slot grid.Layout & Physical Inventory Count:
The set is housed in its original, deep-profileSingle-Tier Wooden Studio Chestfeaturing a hinged top section. Designed for space-saving storage and portability, the heavy-duty wood box housestwo independent, removable cardboard pastel insert trays stacked vertically—one on top of the other—directly inside the deep wooden base.
Each independent tray features a precision layout containing exactly 66 slots (3 rows of 22 pastels per tray), combining to form the exact factory-intended 132-slot master spectrum.

• Top Cardboard Insert Tray:65 sticks present. Only1 stick is entirely missing(top row, 4th from the right). The remaining 65 sticks are full-length, beautifully preserved, and in superb condition.
• Bottom Cardboard Insert Tray (Nested Underneath):63 sticks present. There are3 slots entirely missing(top row, 3rd from the right; middle row, 5th from the right; bottom row, 2nd from the left).
• Stick Condition Details:Out of the remaining collection, 5 sticks in the bottom tray are partial/broken pieces (notably the yellow ochre and a couple of the earth-tone orange/reds in the bottom-left corner). The other123 sticks are beautiful, pristine, full-length studio pieceswith their original Grumbacher paper wrappers perfectly intact.

Condition Report:

• Pastels:High-grade vintage condition. The color labels on the wrappers are exceptionally crisp, legible, and clear. Minimal surface dust or color transfer between sticks.
• Wooden Chest:Structurally excellent. The rear hinges and front closure latches are fully intact and functional. The interior lid features the gorgeous, vibrant, iconic Grumbacher logo stamping in clean, unfaded condition. The outer wooden box shows light, authentic studio wear/scuffs consistent with age, giving it a beautiful vintage patina.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to own a massive, beautifully preserved palette of historic Grumbacher pigments along with an iconic, functional wooden studio chest. Perfect for a working artist looking to experience vintage pigment quality or a collector of rare art history.Please see all high-resolution photos for exact colors and inventory condition layout. Will be packed with extreme care to ensure safe transit.