Mabef M18 Convertible Studio Easel with Castors
Was $1,199.00
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$1,079.10
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$1,199.00
There comes a day when you stop making do and buy the easel.
For a lot of artists, that easel is a Mabef. Crafted in Italy since 1948 from oiled beechwood, Mabef easels are the ones you find in serious studios in more than 60 countries. They hold a canvas over two metres tall rock steady, glide up and down on smooth ratchets and cranks, and come with a lifetime warranty, because they are made to outlast you. We carry one of the biggest Mabef ranges in Australia, from crank studio easels and convertible easels to sketch box field easels, table easels and sculpture stands, shipped Australia wide from our Melbourne and Brisbane warehouses.
Made in Italy since 1948
Lifetime warranty
Same day dispatch*
Ships Australia wide
*In stock orders placed before 11am AEST on business days. Shipping details
★ Art Shed Staff Tip
Measure your ceiling before you fall in love with a big studio easel. The mast on the M07 extends to over three and a half metres, and we have met more than one excited painter who found their ceiling the hard way.
Which Mabef Easel Do You Need?
Choosing an artist easel comes down to three things: how big you paint, what you paint with, and where you paint. Here is the Mabef range sorted the way we explain it in store.
Studio Easels (H-Frame)
For big canvases, heavy oils and a permanent studio. Rock solid, with ratchet canvas holders, tilt levers and on the bigger models a crank to raise your work without lifting a thing.
Look at: M04 Crank, M02 Double Mast, M07, M09
Convertible Easels
The easel for people who refuse to pick one medium. Paint upright in oils on Monday, tilt down for watercolour, soft pastel or pouring on Tuesday.
Look at: M18 with Castors, M25, M11 Inclinable
Lyre Easels
The classic three legged A-frame. Lighter, smaller footprint and lovely to look at, so it suits a spare room studio or doubles as a display easel for finished work.
Look at: M13, M12 Big Lyre, M20 Display
Field and Plein Air Easels
Sketch box (French box) easels carry your paints, palette and canvas in one, and tripod field easels fold light for the beach, the bush or the back paddock. Pair one with canvas panels and you are away.
Look at: M23 Sketch Box, M22 Big Sketch Box, M29 Tripod, M32 Giant Field
Table and Desk Easels
Small space, small works, or you like to paint sitting down. A good table easel turns the kitchen table into a studio and packs away after dinner.
Look at: M14, M17 Super, M31 Oil/Watercolour, M24 Sketch Box
Workstations and Studio Furniture
Everything else a serious studio wants: painting workstations, sculpture stands, print racks, a revolving canvas holder, wooden painting boxes and palettes.
Look at: M30 Workstation, M36 Sculpture Trestle, MA40, M38 Print Rack
How to Choose an Artist Easel
- How tall is your biggest canvas? Check the maximum canvas height. A table easel like the M14 suits small work, while the M07 takes canvases up to 215cm.
- How heavy does it get? Thick oils on a big stretched canvas weigh more than you think. The M07 holds 25kg, the M23 sketch box holds 8kg.
- Upright or flat? Oils and acrylics like upright. Watercolour, pastel and fluid art like flat or close to it, so look for a convertible easel or one whose canvas holder tilts to horizontal.
- Studio, spare room or outdoors? H-frame studio easels stay put. Lyre easels are lighter. Sketch box and tripod easels fold down and travel.
- Sit or stand? If you paint seated, a table easel or a painting workstation is kinder to your back than a floor easel at full stretch.
Not ready for your Mabef just yet?
Starting out, kitting out a classroom or buying for a budding artist? Mont Marte easels are sturdy, well made and brilliant value, and we stock a big range of them too. Browse all artist easels to compare.
Why Artists Buy a Mabef Easel Once
In 1948 Albino Bruno Mariotto, a cabinetmaker who painted, started building easels in the small town of Ispra in northern Italy. He made them for painters because he was one. Today Mabef is sold in more than 60 countries and is the easel a lot of painters dream about while they save up. It is the one we point people to when they want to buy once, buy beautifully, and never think about it again.
- Oiled, stain resistant beechwood. Sustainably sourced beech with a warm oiled finish that shrugs off splatters and gets better looking with every year of paint on it.
- Lifetime warranty. Mabef stands behind every easel for life. That says a lot about how they are built.
- Stable when you lean in. Studio easels like the M07 and M09 have a no-collapse safety system, so you can scumble, scrape and palette knife with confidence.
- Properly adjustable. Ratchet canvas holders, lever tilt and crank height on the larger studio easels put your painting exactly where your arm wants it.
- Simple to put together. Most models need only basic assembly, and our team is a phone call away if you get stuck.
Why Buy Your Mabef Easel From Art Shed
We are an Australian, family owned and artist run art store. Every person on our team paints, draws or makes, so when you ask which easel suits your space and your medium, you get an answer from someone who actually stands at one. You can see Mabef easels in person at Art Shed Moorabbin in Melbourne, or order online and we ship to every state and territory from our Melbourne and Brisbane warehouses.
We were named Best Online Art Supplies Retailer Australia 2026 and hold a 2025 Quality Business Award, backed by more than 15,000 five star reviews. Not sure which model is right? Call us on 1300 785 406 or browse all artist easels, floor and tripod easels and table easels. And when the easel arrives, you will need something to put on it: stretched canvas and oil paints are a good start.
Questions About Mabef Easels
Where can I buy Mabef easels in Australia?
Art Shed Online carries one of the largest Mabef ranges in Australia, covering studio, convertible, lyre, field, sketch box and table easels plus Mabef studio furniture. We ship Australia wide from Melbourne and Brisbane, with same day dispatch on in stock orders placed before 11am AEST on business days. You can also see Mabef easels in person at Art Shed Moorabbin in Melbourne.
Are Mabef easels worth the money?
If painting is a big part of your life, yes. A Mabef is made in Italy from oiled beechwood, stays steady under heavy canvases, adjusts smoothly and comes with a lifetime warranty, so it is usually the last easel you ever buy. Think of it like a great chair or a good set of knives: you feel the difference every single day you use it.
What is the best Mabef easel for large oil paintings?
Which Mabef easel is best for watercolour and pastel?
Choose an easel that tilts close to flat. The M18 and M25 convertible easels move from upright to horizontal, the M31 table easel is designed for both oil and watercolour, and the M23 sketch box and M30 workstation both let you set the canvas holder at any angle between vertical and horizontal.
What is the best Mabef easel for plein air painting?
The M23 Small Sketch Box is a favourite. It folds to 56 x 30 x 16cm, has adjustable leather shoulder straps, a tin lined drawer and a folding palette, and holds canvases up to 85cm. For something simpler, the M29 tripod field easel folds down for easy carrying.
What is the difference between a lyre easel and an H-frame easel?
A lyre easel stands on three legs in an A shape, so it is lighter and takes up less floor space, which suits smaller studios and display. An H-frame studio easel sits on a rectangular base with a central mast, making it heavier and more stable for large or heavy canvases and vigorous painting.
Do Mabef easels come with a warranty?
Yes. Mabef easels come with a lifetime warranty. Keep your order details, and if anything goes wrong contact our customer service team and we will sort it out with you.
Are Mabef easels hard to assemble?
No. Most Mabef easels need only simple assembly. If you get stuck, call us on 1300 785 406 and one of our team will talk you through it.