Review on 🖌️ Mabef Sketch Box Easel (MBM-22): Natural Beauty for Artists on-the-go! by Gelin Battle

I ordered this easel having read that Mabef is currently the leader in the product line and Julian easels have dropped in quality. Unfortunately, I think Mabeuf does too. At first I thought I had received a fake but when I sent the photos of Mabef to Italy they confirmed it was real. The frame is solid beech, but the top of the sketch box is now plywood. Note that in my picture it is more marbled than regular beech wood and looks and feels cheaper. The pallet looks like plastic, but I'm told it's some sort of treated plywood "to make it easier to clean." In addition, the leather handle has also been reduced in price. Compared to the old version still pictured on the Mabef website, the new handle is much thinner and no longer has decorative brass rivets. However, it is still leather. Eventually there are no more cut outs in the drawer and instead thin metal dividers that attach to the sides, which I find less attractive and more difficult to slide in and out. Mabef told me they changed the design because people complained that the old ones were harder to set up, but I suspect they did it to save on costs. However, the easel is good enough, so I keep it to myself. The connections are well made (the wood is interlocking, not glued) and the legs are strong and easy to adjust. Mine is up, no problem. Only the screws have to be tightened during assembly. And for the record, the setup instructions are INSIDE the sketch box. So you have to open it first. Conclusion: Still a nice easel, but of lower quality than I had hoped given Mabeuf's reputation. Maybe I should look for a decent used one that was made a few years ago. than I had hoped given Mabeuf's reputation. Maybe I should look for a decent used one that was made a few years ago. than I had hoped given Mabeuf's reputation. Maybe I should look for a decent used one that was made a few years ago.