Saxe Blue

Saxe Blue is named after the cobalt mines in the Saxony region of Germany. Cobalt ore had been mined in Saxony since the 16th century for glass and ceramic coloring, but Saxe Blue was formally established as an independent color name in the 18th century after the Meissen porcelain factory developed its cobalt blue glaze.

Since its establishment in 1710, the Meissen factory has used cobalt blue as its hallmark. Its classic 'Blue Onion' pattern, though derived from Chinese blue-and-white, presented a uniquely European grey-tone blue with Saxon cobalt. This greyish blue appeared calmer than Chinese blue-and-white and became the representative color of European porcelain.

Saxe Blue was introduced to the textile industry in the 19th century. Textile mills in the Saxony region dyed wool and cotton with cobalt blue dye, producing workwear and military uniforms widely sold to German states. This washable, fade-resistant grey-blue workwear was the iconic color of the working class during the German Industrial Revolution.

In the early 20th century, the activities of the Bauhaus design school in Weimar and Dessau brought Saxe Blue into modern design. Bauhaus artists favored Saxe Blue's grey, industrial feel, using it for walls, printed materials, and furniture design, endowing this traditional color with a modern minimalist spirit.

Today, Saxe Blue is a recessive gene in German design and manufacturing. From Braun electronics to Porsche interiors, from German railway signs to Berlin city paint schemes, this simple yet sophisticated grey-tone blue silently interprets the German design philosophy of 'less is more'.