diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFFont.java b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFFont.java
index 4e2a2fe898..61d89dbc75 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFFont.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/poi/hssf/usermodel/HSSFFont.java
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 package org.apache.poi.hssf.usermodel;
 
 import org.apache.poi.hssf.record.FontRecord;
+import org.apache.poi.hssf.util.HSSFColor;
 import org.apache.poi.ss.usermodel.Font;
 
 /**
@@ -191,6 +192,15 @@ public final class HSSFFont implements Font {
     {
         return font.getColorPaletteIndex();
     }
+    
+    /**
+     * get the color value for the font
+     */
+    public HSSFColor getHSSFColor(HSSFWorkbook wb)
+    {
+       HSSFPalette pallette = wb.getCustomPalette();
+       return pallette.getColor( getColor() );
+    }
 
     /**
      * set the boldness to use