What colors are in the "Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1" palette?

Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1 contains 3 colors: Lemon Yellow (#f8ed43), Vandar Poel's Blue (#064f6e), Veronia Purple (#8c4c62). From Sanzo Wada's "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (1933).

When was the "Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1" palette created?

This palette is from Sanzo Wada's 1933 reference work "A Dictionary of Color Combinations" (Seigensha Art Publishing 2010 reprint). Wada documented historical Japanese color combinations from the showa era and earlier periods. The source work is in the public domain.

What style or era does the "Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1" palette belong to?

Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1 is associated with the showa era and emphasizes yellow tones. Plate 168 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Lemon Yellow, Vandar Poel's Blue, Veronia Purple.

Can I use the "Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1" palette in my own design?

Yes. The source palette by Sanzo Wada (1933) is in the public domain. This page's curation and metadata are CC BY 4.0 licensed — attribution to colorcombinations.org appreciated but not required for the colors themselves.

Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1 — The Dictionary of Color Combinations

About this combination

Combination 168 of 348 in Wada's six-volume 1933 work. A 3-colour grouping of Lemon Yellow, Vandar Poel's Blue, Veronia Purple, as documented in the original plates.

Historical context

This palette is inspired by the tradition of Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations, which cataloged combinations drawn from centuries of Japanese cultural life. The specific colors here use traditional shikisai names that have been in the public domain for generations.

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Details

Era: Showa
Dominant hue: yellow
Moods: refined, warm
Colors: 3

Accessibility

WCAG contrast ratios between every color pair. Use the strongest combinations for text; the weakest ones make good decorative backgrounds.

Strongest pair: Lemon Yellow on Vandar Poel's Blue — 7.31:1 (AAA)

Lemon Yellow·Vandar Poel's Blue7.31:1AAA
Lemon Yellow·Veronia Purple5.17:1AA
Vandar Poel's Blue·Veronia Purple1.41:1Fail

How to read this

AAA: Passes WCAG 2.1 AAA for normal text — the highest accessibility bar.
AA: Passes WCAG 2.1 AA for normal text. Standard production requirement.
AA Large: Passes WCAG 2.1 AA for large text only (18pt+ or 14pt+ bold). Avoid for body copy.
Fail: Below WCAG 2.1 AA. Fine for decorative use — not for text.

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From the editorial · Long read

Heian Court Color Theory: Kasane, Kinjiki, and the Seasonal Palette

How the Heian imperial court systematised colour into layered-robe combinations (kasane no irome), forbidden pigments (kinjiki), and a 12-month seasonal calendar.

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Related combinations

Three palettes with a similar feel.

Showa era

Ivory Buff & Orange Rufous

Plate 102 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Ivory Buff, Orange Rufous.

Showa era

Naples Yellow & Peach Red

Plate 115 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Naples Yellow, Peach Red.

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Yellow Ocher & Vandyke Brown

Plate 118 from Sanzo Wada's 1933 Dictionary of Color Combinations — Yellow Ocher, Vandyke Brown.

Lemon Yellow & Vandar Poel's Blue +1

About this combination

Historical context

Embed this palette

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Heian Court Color Theory: Kasane, Kinjiki, and the Seasonal Palette

Crimson & Navy— 紅と紺

Pale Blue & Vermillion— 浅葱と朱

Celadon & Unbleached— 青磁と生成

Indigo Blue & Silver— 縹と銀

Grass Yellow & Rikyū Grey— 刈安と利休鼠

Royal Purple & Silver— 紫と銀

Ivory Buff & Orange Rufous

Naples Yellow & Peach Red

Yellow Ocher & Vandyke Brown