PIGMENTS ARE DISCLOSED COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY TERNARY SYSTEM INCLUDING A RUTILE-TYPE SUPPORTING LATTICE AND OXIDES OF COLUMBIUM AND A TRANSITIONAL ELEMENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF NICKEL, CHROMIUM, COBALT, MANGANESE, VANADIUM, AND MIXTURES THEREOF. THE MOLAR RATIOS OF THE OXIDES OF COLUMBIUM AND THE TRANSITIONAL ELEMENT MAY VARY MUCH MORE WIDELY THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT POSSIBLE FOR ADDED COMPONENTS WHILE STILL OBTAINING STABLE PIGMENTS HAVING ACCEPTABLE COLOR STRENGTH AND DURABILITY. IN A PREFERRED FORM, THE PIGMENTS COMPRISE TERNARY OXIDE SYSTEM HAVING TITANIA AS THE RUTILE-TYPE SUPPORTING LATTICE AND ARE FREE OF HEAVY METALS LIKE LEAD, ANTIMONY, MERCURY, AND THE LIKE. OPTIONALLY, THE RUTILETYPE SUPPORTING LATTICE MAY BE REPLACED IN PART BY AN OXIDE OF BARIUM, MAGNESIUM, STRONTIUM, ZINC, CALCIUM OR MIXTURES THEREOF.