Sable is a small, weasel-like animal native to the forests of Russia and northern Asia, prized for centuries for its incredibly soft, dark, luxurious fur. Sable fur was so valuable in medieval times that it became a symbol of wealth and royalty. Russian sable coats cost fortunes, and only the richest people could afford them.

Because sable fur is typically a deep, rich brown or black color, the word sable also means a dark brownish-black shade. In heraldry (the system of designing coats of arms and family crests), sable specifically means black. When an artist describes a color as sable, they mean something darker than chocolate brown but warmer than pure black.

The animal itself looks somewhat like a mink or pine marten, with a bushy tail and a sharp little face. Sables are skilled hunters in snowy forests, feeding on small rodents, birds, and fish. Today, most sable fur comes from farms rather than wild animals, though conservation efforts have helped wild sable populations recover after centuries of overhunting nearly drove them to extinction.