Zaffre

A color that few people have ever heard of, Zaffre is a deep, brilliant blue. The name comes from the Italian word zaffera, which itself came from the Latin word for sapphire, and the color does resemble that of the bright blue gem. Zaffre is actually a very specific color, however. It was an ancient pigment produced when cobalt ore was burned in a furnace.

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Australien

In 1897, Australien was listed as a new and popular color for ladies’ dresses. This deep, slightly dark sandy orange color was meant to mimic the reddish-brown sands of the Australian outback, and the subtle yet striking color became a favorite in the late Victorian age.

Falu

Falu, which is a dark, rich red, is named for the Falun copper mines in Sweden. For many centuries, the surrounding area used the waste materials from the mining industry to create a particular paint, designed to mimic the red of bricks. The materials, which are rich in iron, give the paint its striking deep red color. Falu paint also helped to preserve wood, so it became incredibly popular, and many rural homes in Sweden are still painted this color.

Caput Mortuum

Translated from Latin, the name of this color means ‘dead head’ or ‘worthless remains.’ The color comes from the term for oxidized rust, which is a deep, dark brown with red and purple undertones. Caput Mortuum was once very popular for use in portrait painting, and it has remained a beloved oil paint color throughout the years.