Cobalt is a silvery, blue-gray metallic ore. When cobalt salts and aluminum oxide are mixed, a beautiful shade of blue is obtained. The color cobalt or cobalt blue is a medium blue, lighter than navy blue but bluer than the lighter sky blue. In pottery, porcelain, tile, and glass making, the cobalt blue color comes from the addition of cobalt salts. With the addition of varying amounts of other metals or minerals, cobalt can be more magenta or more purple.

Cobalt is a cool color with a connection to nature, the sky, and water. It is considered friendly, authoritative, and trustworthy. Cobalt blue is calming and peaceful. It can suggest wealth. Like azure and other medium blues, its qualities include stability and calmness.

Cobalt blue has long been used in Chinese porcelain and other ceramics, and in stained glass. In the art world, cobalt blue was used by Renoir, Monet, and Van Gogh. More recently, a cobalt blue color was named after Maxfield Parrish, an American painter in the early 20th century — Parrish Blue. He was known for his saturated hues.

Cobalt blue is loved by both men and women. Combine the cool cobalt blue with a warm color such as red, orange or yellow for emphasis in the design. Combine it with green for a watery palette or use it with gray for a sophisticated look.