Cretacolor
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Cretacolor is an Austrian manufacturer of writing instruments, specialized in art materials. The origin of Cretacolor dates back to Joseph Hardtmuth, an Austrian entrepreneur and inventor, who produced ceramic products at the end of the 18th century. In 1792 he founded a pencil factory, producing the first pencils with burnt graphite leads: until then, all pencil-leads where cut out of (expensive) graphite blocks. Hardthmuth mixed (cheap) graphite powder with clay and formed pencil leads out of it. Finally, the lead was heated up to 900°C, producing a very high braking strength.
[edit] Cretacolor today
Since WW2, the company concentrated on the development and production of high quality art pencils. In recent years, hig lightfastness has become an issue of increasing importance to artists, and Cretacolor has been one of the first manufacturers launching ranges of lightfast color pencils with its AquaStick line.
