Ancient Violet works as a warm neutral anchor — pairs cleanly with most existing palettes and reads forgiving across lighting conditions. At LRV 17 it reads as a deep, enveloping shade — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. Skip it if you want a crisp, cool-modern look, or in rooms with heavy north light that can pull its warmth slightly muddy.
Ref. #766F86 · 10RB 17/122
Ancient Violet
17%LRV Value
Ancient Violet Technical Profile
What color is PPG Ancient Violet (10RB 17/122)? It's a deep warm gray — hex #766F86, LRV 17. The closest cross-brand equivalent to Ancient Violet is Hirshfield's Dancing in the Spring — a near-identical match on the wall, with Vista Paint Dancing in the Spring and Dutch Boy Violaceous also close. With an LRV of 17, Ancient Violet creates a dramatic, enveloping mood — best on accent walls, dining rooms, and intimate spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. As a warm neutral, Ancient Violet pairs with off-whites for trim, white oak or walnut floors, and brass or warm brushed nickel hardware. Deep green, navy, or terra-cotta all read well as accent colors. As a deeper neutral, Ancient Violet reads as a confident anchor — strongest on accent walls, cabinetry, and moody whole rooms that get enough natural light to keep it from going flat. Warm neutrals come alive under 2700K bulbs, where their underlying yellow or peach undertones add visible warmth. Under 4000K daylight they read cleaner and slightly cooler. Deeper neutrals can read close to black in low light, so preview Ancient Violet in the room's actual evening lighting, not just at midday.
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Colors Similar to Ancient Violet
Closest digital match based on color values. Always verify with physical samples.
Dancing in the Spring
Hirshfield's
Nearly identical
Dancing in the Spring
Vista Paint
Nearly identical
Violaceous
Dutch Boy
Nearly identical
Composers Magic
Behr
Very similar
Mythical
Sherwin-Williams
Very similar
Pearl Black Berry
RAL
Very similar
Nightfall Sky
Benjamin Moore
Very similar
Turbid Amethyst
Valspar
Very similar
Recommended Pairings
Colors That Work With Ancient Violet
Timeless pairing with clean white trim and a tonal accent wall
Side Walls
Ancient Violet
#766F86
Accent Wall
Tonal Shift
A warm shift that adds depth without clashing.
#A17FA9
Trim & Molding
Pure White
Crisp white trim for a clean, traditional look.
#FFFFFF
Color Palettes for Ancient Violet
Color harmonies based on color theory — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Opposite on the color wheel — creates vibrant contrast
Ancient Violet Room Palettes
Color schemes built around this color — each swatch links to the closest matching paint.
Warm & Inviting
Warm tones with cozy appeal — welcoming and comfortable
Cool & Calm
Cool hues with soft contrast — serene and restful
Bold Contrast
Complementary hues with punch — dynamic and striking
Similar PPG Colors
Other PPG colors close to Ancient Violet.
More gray colors from other brands
Cross-brand colors in the gray family — useful when you want a similar look from a different brand.
Ancient Violet — Frequently Asked Questions
What colors match Ancient Violet from other brands?
The closest cross-brand equivalents to Ancient Violet are Dancing in the Spring by Hirshfield's (a near-identical match), Dancing in the Spring by Vista Paint (a near-identical match), Violaceous by Dutch Boy (a near-identical match). These are ranked with the CIEDE2000 color-difference formula, which scores how similar two colors actually look to the eye rather than matching them by name — so they're the best options for getting Ancient Violet's look in a brand your local store carries. Always confirm with a physical sample, since sheen and lighting shift the final result.
What is the LRV of Ancient Violet?
Ancient Violet has a Light Reflectance Value (LRV) of 16.9, on a scale where 0 is pure black and 100 is pure white. That makes it a deep, dramatic color best saved for accent walls, dining rooms, and cozy spaces where atmosphere matters more than reflected light. LRV is the most reliable guide to how light or dark a paint will read in a real room — more dependable than the swatch on your screen, which varies by monitor.
Explore More with Ancient Violet
Related Reading
How to Match Paint Colors Across Brands
The science behind Delta E and CIEDE2000 — find a Behr equivalent of any Sherwin-Williams shade, or a Benjamin Moore alternative when your store is out of stock.
Paint Sheen Guide
Flat, eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss — the right finish for Ancient Violet depends on the room. Here's how to choose.