Color me intrigued

Before the pantone: 10 color shades with old names

Colors come in a multitude of shades, most of them with a very specific name. Some of these names are a reference to a common object of that color —for example, ruby, maize, or lavender— while others, much more modern, are just a product of marketing, popular use, or just imagination —such as razzle dazzle rose, school bus yellow, or French blue. But some specific shade names have a story that goes back centuries, across different cultures and traditions. Here are ten color shades and the history behind their name.

This vibrant red-orange shade takes its name from an ancient pigment, highly toxic, made from cinnabar, a form of mercury. Its name comes from the Old French vermeillon, derived from vermiculus, a diminutive of the Latin vermis (‘worm’). What did this toxic pigment have to do with worms? An insect called Kermes vermilio was used to make a natural dye in a similar shade, but much more common than cinnabar, so its name became popular and was used for all similar red-orange shades.

Described as a shade that goes from light-brown to brownish-orange, tawny is associated with tanned leather, not only in color but in the origin of its name. Celts used tannum or crushed oak bark to treat animal hides and produce leather. Though Latin, this word made its way into Old French as tauné, ‘tan leather colored’, and then into English.

With a name that alludes to the sea, the origin of this deep blue shade seems to be quite straightforward, except it isn’t. Ultramarine blue takes its name from the Ultramarine pigment, made from grinding lapis lazuli stone. This pigment, as costly as gold, was imported from Afghanistan by Venetian merchants, who called it (azzurro) oltramarino or ‘(blue) from beyond the sea’.

Now described as cream or grayish yellow, ecru was initially used to describe the color of unbleached linen. Before bleached into a creamy white color, linen would retain the color of the dried flax fibers used to weave it. The French word écru, meaning ‘raw’ or ‘unbleached’, initially served as a mere descriptor of the fabric's state, but was eventually associated with its color.

To no one’s surprise, the name of this blueish-green shade comes from French. But although its French equivalent, vert-de-gris, means ‘green of gray’, there is no gray in its origin. There are two possible origins for this name: the first one is vert d'aigre or ‘green made with vinegar’, because a pigment of this name was made using copper and vinegar. The second one ties this shade to art objects imported from Greece, which gave way to the name vert-de-Grèce, ‘green of Greece’.

Indigo is used to describe a variety of blue shades, from the dark blue in the rainbow to various blue hues that can be achieved using indigo dye. Originally, the term indigo, from the Latin indicum (‘Indian’), was specifically used for a pigment made from the Indigofera plant and exported from India. Later on, the term became synonymous with the various blue shades resulting from that dye.

Nowadays, we automatically associate the color sepia with old photographs, but did you know its name and hue come from a fish? In ancient Greece and Rome, the ink of the sepia cuttlefish was used for writing, and it remained a commonly used drawing ink up until the early 19th century, when it started being used for watercolors and oil paints.

This one is tricky. As a color, auburn is a shade of brown, though it is often used to describe a specific type of red hair that has a mixture of red and brown tones. The term auburn, however, has nothing to do with red nor with brown. It comes from the French alborne, derived from the Latin alburnus or ‘off-white’, and it was used for blond people. How did it come to mean reddish-brown? Auburn and brown sounded similar.

Technically, there is no color named purpura in modern English, but there used to be. Made from crushed sea snails, the purpura dye was extremely expensive, and it became associated with royalty. Originally called porphura by the Greeks, the word was latinized as purpura, and was later adopted into English as purpul, from where we get the modern ‘purple’. So, while purpura is the original purple, it is nowadays called Tyrian or royal purple to avoid confusion.

This reddish-orange shade gets its name from the jasper, a semiprecious quartz known for having a pattern. The name ‘jasper’ comes from the Greek iaspis, meaning ‘spotted or speckled stone’. While there are multiple colors of jasper stones, the most common one is red, so the name of the stone became synonymous with that shade.

From pets to legends

A dog that knew Morse code? 10 amazing animals with their own statues

Image: Point Normal

We all remember a special pet from our childhood for different reasons, and many of us still have a furry friend who happily greets us every time we come home. But beyond being faithful companions, some animals have also made a lasting impact on society. Join us as we discover 10 incredible animals who were honored with their own memorials!

Image: Jessica Tan

One of the most famous presidential pets in America -and even the world- was Fala, the lovely black Scottish Terrier who followed President Franklin D. Roosevelt everywhere he went. And in a way, Fala is still by FDR's side, as his own bronze statue sits right next to the president's at the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Image: Alfred Lee

All dogs have a special place in our hearts, but as it turns out, some of them even find a place in government! That was the case for Bosco, a Labrador and Rottweiler mix that was elected honorary mayor of Sunol, California, and held the title from 1981 until his passing in 1994. As it could not be otherwise, after his death, the locals honored him with his well-deserved bronze statue.

Image: Chalo Gallardo

Central Park is where you'll find the statue of Balto, a brave dog who helped save many lives! In 1925, Balto led a team of sled dogs across nearly 700 miles of icy Alaskan terrain. This heroic dog was tasked with transporting diphtheria antitoxin to a remote village facing a deadly outbreak. No one can deny that he deserves a memorial!

Image: Darel Low

Dog loyalty is a serious issue, and Hachiko is the perfect example. Famous not just in Japan but around the world, Hachiko, an Akita dog, faithfully accompanied his owner to work every day and waited for him at the train station. Tragically, his owner passed away while at work, but Hachiko never left the station, waiting for him every day for 10 years until his own death. His story touched many people, and in 1934, a bronze statue of Hachiko was erected at Shibuya Station.

Image: Andréas BRUN

In the streets of Istanbul lived Tombilli, the city's most beloved cat. Known for lounging lazily on the steps of different buildings with one arm comfortably draped, this cat became an icon and was the main character of many stories and photos. After his passing in 2016, Tombilli's fame earned him a memorial in the streets of the Turkish city.

Image: Erik Mclean

This Llewellyn Setter, born in 1925, was particularly known for his exceptional hunting skills, but that wasn't all. It was said that Jim was able to understand and obey commands in multiple languages, and even in Morse code! According to his owner, Jim could also identify cars and people just by hearing their description. Whether this was true or an exaggeration, there's no doubt that Jim was an incredibly intelligent dog, and we're glad he has a well-deserved statue.

Image: Nan Wisanmongkol

We all remember Laika, the courageous dog who became the first living creature to orbit the Earth. Laika was found on the streets of Moscow, and her strength and resilience led her to become a part of this historic space mission. In November 1957, she was sent aboard Sputnik 2, the second spacecraft to be launched into space. Unfortunately, Laika didn't survive. Years later, a memorial was erected in Moscow to commemorate and honor Laika's heroic sacrifice.

Image: COPPERTIST WU

In the early 1800s, explorer Matthew Flinders undertook a series of voyages to circumnavigate and map the coasts of the Australian continent. But Flinders didn't sail alone. Along for the journey was Trim, the loyal cat who stayed by his side throughout the adventure. It's said that as a kitten, Trim once fell overboard but managed to swim back to the ship and climb up a rope. That moment showed his bold spirit, and it's just one of the reasons he earned the statue that was erected in his honor in 1996.

Image: Sean Benesh

It's not just cats and dogs; there's also a statue that honors Winnipeg, a black bear cub. In 1914, Winnipeg was adopted by a Canadian lieutenant who named her after his hometown of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The bear cub traveled with him to England during WWI and eventually became a star resident at the London Zoo. There, she captured the heart of A.A. Milne's son and became the inspiration for the lovable Winnie the Pooh. As could not be otherwise, her memorial is in the Canadian city of Winnipeg.

Image: Irina Nakonechnaya

When we talk about heroic animals, we can't forget the many four-legged friends who have served in different wartime conflicts. In London, you can find the Animals in War Memorial, a place dedicated to all those animals that have served and lost their lives under military command throughout British history. They definitely deserve recognition!