Koh-i-Noor stationary and art supplies

Koh-i-Noor Hardtmuth is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious manufacturers of stationery and art supplies. Founded in 1790 by Joseph Hardtmuth in Vienna, the company moved its production to České Budějovice in 1848, where it remains headquartered today. The brand gained global fame for its development of the modern graphite pencil, which utilized a clay-graphite mixture to create various grades of hardness.

Today, Koh-i-Noor continues to operate as a leading European manufacturer, producing a vast range of artistic materials, including the famous '1500' series pencils and the 'Magic' multicolored pencils. While its primary manufacturing base is located in the Czech Republic, the company has expanded its production and distribution network to include facilities in other countries such as Bulgaria and Italy to meet international demand.

The global brand is currently part of the Koh-i-Noor holding, a private Czech business group. It remains a symbol of Central European industrial heritage, maintaining a strong focus on traditional quality while the ultimate parent company, Koh-i-Noor holding a.s., oversees diverse industrial and manufacturing interests beyond the stationery sector.