Tattoo History Daily

An umbrella duel about to happen? (From Baer, 1893…read...

Thu, 16 May 2013 21:45:43 -0400

An umbrella duel about to happen? (From Baer, 1893…read more on Tattoo History Occasionally: tattoohistorian.com)

Pre-machine era red-and-black tattooing. Read more about this on...

Tue, 14 May 2013 15:12:52 -0400

Pre-machine era red-and-black tattooing. Read more about this on the new Tattoo History Occasionally blog: tattoohistorian.com.

Another one of the images from the new Tattoo History...

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:46:14 -0400

Another one of the images from the new Tattoo History Occasionally blog post on the Baer book at tattoohistorian.com. Tattoo artists and collectors will particularly appreciate that it says “INK” instead of “INRI” over the figure!

A teaser screen cap from the new blog. tattoohistorian.com

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:23:29 -0400

A teaser screen cap from the new blog. tattoohistorian.com

First proper blog post on Tattoo History Occasionally about the...

Sun, 12 May 2013 17:20:52 -0400

First proper blog post on Tattoo History Occasionally about the Baer book with many new images! Check it out…

For all my fellow moms out there (especially my fellow single...

Sun, 12 May 2013 11:10:30 -0400

For all my fellow moms out there (especially my fellow single moms). We are warriors sometimes! Happy Mother’s Day. (From Baer, 1893.)

Hoping to get the first proper Tattoo History Occasionally post...

Fri, 10 May 2013 18:54:27 -0400

Hoping to get the first proper Tattoo History Occasionally post up about the incredible Baer 1893 criminology book this weekend (finally). Put tattoohistorian.com in your bookmarks! And really wishing I had my own pair of doves capable of helping me balance on tiptoe right now!

Another fabulous Burmese design from Joest, 1887.

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:22:33 -0400

Another fabulous Burmese design from Joest, 1887.

Burmese tattoo design from Joest, 1887.

Wed, 08 May 2013 19:27:39 -0400

Burmese tattoo design from Joest, 1887.

Last of the White fantasy Pict mini-series details: fishing...

Sat, 04 May 2013 13:47:34 -0400

Last of the White fantasy Pict mini-series details: fishing boats, fellow Picts, and a small castle-like structure. Some of my favorite bits of historic prints are the tiny details from the backgrounds.

First of two non-tattoo details to finish out the White fantasy...

Sat, 04 May 2013 13:45:36 -0400

First of two non-tattoo details to finish out the White fantasy Pict detail mini-series. Although this castle might make a nice inspiration for a tattoo!

The last of the “tattoo” details from White’s...

Fri, 03 May 2013 15:27:39 -0400

The last of the “tattoo” details from White’s fantasy Pict. Lower legs and feet (love the stirrups!). Tomorrow I’ll finish up this mini-series by posting some details from the fantastic background. Also see the FB page for links to White’s probable Native American inspiration for these designs.

Two today (to celebrate 1400 Instagram fans). Knee detail from...

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:32:55 -0400

Two today (to celebrate 1400 Instagram fans). Knee detail from White’s Pict fantasy.

Thigh tattoos from White’s fantasy Pict creation. So...

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:31:08 -0400

Thigh tattoos from White’s fantasy Pict creation. So tempting to read women’s garters into the design, but they hadn’t been created yet! (Although garters for guys existed, e.g. as leather straps for holding armor in place.)

Bellybutton sun tattoo from White’s fantasy Pict...

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:36:55 -0400

Bellybutton sun tattoo from White’s fantasy Pict engraving, 1606 copy.

Today’s 1606 White fantasy Pict detail…arm, rib, and...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:25:39 -0400

Today’s 1606 White fantasy Pict detail…arm, rib, and hip tattoos. The armbands are clearly influenced by the Native American women he sketched. And how awesome is that rib-cage tattoo given the current popularity of that location? Flames or claws???

Detail of chest “tattoos” on White’s imagined...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 11:11:52 -0400

Detail of chest “tattoos” on White’s imagined Pict from de Bry, 1606.

Print detail mini-series this week featuring details from my...

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:19:29 -0400

Print detail mini-series this week featuring details from my 1606 copy of White’s fantasy of what a tattooed Pict looked like! Very excited to have spent an hour with a photographer friend taking high-res images of some of the rare things currently in my possession.

A detail of Ewer’s face showing the forehead tattoo...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:28:01 -0400

A detail of Ewer’s face showing the forehead tattoo rendered circa 1820. The tattoo was discovered only recently upon conservation of the painting. It had been painted over at some point! (Image collection of the Nantucket Historical Association, gift of the Friends of the NHA, 1986.30.1)

Here’s the (mostly) full portrait of Peter Folger Ewer...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:22:57 -0400

Here’s the (mostly) full portrait of Peter Folger Ewer (1800-1855) by William Swain, oil on canvas, 1828. Hard to see the tattoo in the full portrait though. (Image collection of the Nantucket Historical Association, gift of the Friends of the NHA, 1986.30.1.