History of tattooing

Tattooing is used since the day humans started walking the earth. The Egyptians have been tattooing since 4000BC. Tattoos were found on many mummies, even on one of an Egyptian princess, who lived around 2000BC.

According to proof from Herodotus, (450BC) Strabo and Plinius, tattooing was very common in Thracia, Dacia, Sarmatia and Agathyrcia. Tattooing (facial) was often mentioned by the Assyriers. In the Bible jews are prohibited to get tattooed. In Christianity there was a long time when it was normal to get religious images tattooed on the body.

Tattooing in ancient peoples was discovered by explorers, who went to explore and examine the East and West. A very famous explorer and writer, Captain Cook, wrote about his findings after for example his journey to Tahiti, which was discovered in 1769. People originally thought that it was this peoples who invented tattooing, which was called ‘ta-tau’, of which the word tattoo was derived. After many more journeys to unknown land, people came in contact with many more inhabitants, who all used other patterns and motives for tattooing.

In NEW ZEALAND were the MAORI’S. Their common facial tattoos, which were used in both male and female culture, were applied with beautiful round patterns. They served for keeping traditions alive, together with using them for entrance to the afterlife. Someone who died un-tattooed, would never find peace in the here-after.

In BORNEO were the DAJAKS. They were a tribe who killed many other people. They used tattooing both for having their tribals (tribe signs) on their bodies, but also the amount of people they had beheaded. The refined patterns were stamped on the skin with ink and afterwards ‘hammered’ into the skin.

In JAPAN, beautiful images were pinched into the skin all over the body, done by hand. These images were applied after the right gods and the right characteristics of the tattooed person were brought together. These body suites were mainly used on the Yakusa (Japanese Mafia) and on Geisha’s. In Japan tattooing is officially prohibited, though the profession is acted out regularly in cities like Tokyo. Japanese peoples usually have a strong dislike of tattoos, although full Japanese body suits are colourful pieces of art. Nowadays also Japanese tattoo artists use machines. Tattooing in Japan has been a ‘trend’ since the Edo-era. (1600-1868)

In INDIA (Laos, Annam, Cambodja, Birma) is het tatoeëren reeds eeuwen in gebruik o.a. als kaste teken. Verder vindt men het in THAILAND, waar nog heden gehele bovenlichamen met vele krulletjes worden versierd, in NIEUW GUINEA bij de PAPOEA'S,in de binnenlanden van AFRIKA bij vele volksstammen, in MEXICO, in NOORD en ZUID AMERIKA bij vele INDIANENSTAMMEN, bij de KALINGERSTAM op LUZON (Philippijnen), op de CANARISCHE EILANDEN, MAROKKO + TUNESIE als gelaatstatoeëringen bij vrouwen en bij Berberstammen.

In AINUS culture, (North Japanese island HOKKAIDO) young girls were being tattooed. The upper lips were getting tattooed like a big moustache with side points going upwards. Also the lower arms were completely covered.

In SUDAN, the Nuba’s tattooed, in KENIA the Nongo’s did, and in KONGO the children were tattooed at a very young age so that they could never end up with other tribes. In addition, tattooing was very common in POLYNESIA, MICRONESIA, on the MARQUEZAS-ISLANDS in the Pacific (discovered by Captain Cook in the 2^nd half of the 18^th century) where it was custom to have beautiful, artsy tattoos on the hands, feet and face. The men were decorated all over the body.

On TIGRE in ETHIOPIA, the women were tattooed from top to bottom, while the men only had a small piece on their arms. On the CORAL and COCONUT ISLANDS tattoos are being applied from puberty; men partially, women fully covered. On the MENTAWEI ISLANDS near Sumatra, the SAKOEDDEI are a tribe who cover themselves in lines and spiral patterns. After 1890, it was very common for seamen from the USA, ENGLAND and FRANCE to get sea-themed tattoos.

In 1947, Russian archaeologists found a crypt in the rich savannas of SIBERIA. The bodies were conserved beautifully by the freezing temperatures. They had been under the ice for ages. One of the bodies belonged to a big, masculine tribal chief, his body was covered in many tattoos.

Tattoo machine: The tattoo machine was invented about one hundred years ago (December 12, 1891) by the Irish Riley, and was improved ten years later by the same man. He called his invention a “Tattaugraph”. The machine consisted of a rotating electro-motor, which made place for a vibrating one after the improvement. This is now the standard machine used by most tattoo artists. Riley settled in New York and around 1897 a tattoo-mania burst out. As colouring he would use grinded bricks, lamp soot, gunpowder, cinnamon and ink. Before this tattoo machine, tattooing took place using a stick, with a bundle of needles attached. This was the working way in Japan.

In New Zealand two series of stamps were published, dedicated to the Maori’s, featuring images of them wearing facial tattoos.

A well known and famous tattoo artist was George Burchett, (1872-1953). He tattooed many kings and other nobility.

Around 1920 people in the USA had this vision of tattoos: It wasn’t immoral on itself to wear an image on the own skin, but it could mean that the owner wasn’t quite familiar with manners and morality. Thus, the owner of tattoos was thought of to have a negative influence on his friends and colleagues. In the Canadian state Alberta, it was still penal to wear visible tattoos. In 1974 there was a 35 dollar fine and the obligation to ‘restore’ the skin. Prostitutes often used tattoos in this time. In 1847, more than 25 percent of the registered ‘girls’ were provided with beautiful tattoos.

It is impossible to see a tattoo as only a sexual thing. It is more of a way of expressing exhibitionism. Around 1820 more and more ladies of nobility would get a tattoo, of which even their best friends and companions had no idea. Because of the many journeys around the world, more and more seamen would get tattooed in countries where this was very normal to do. Around 1920 the interest in tattoos declined, though came back around the second World War.

During the 16th century many knights of the Cross came back after pilgrimage from the Far East, and got tattooed, which consisted of Christian symbols.

In 1989 all newspapers wrote that tattoos were ‘out of fashion’ under the youth. Nu, in 1993, the trend is back. Currently there is a big demand for black and white tattoos, which have no colour, but many shades of black to create depth. There is also a big interest in Celtic work and tribal-tattoos, coming from the Dajak- and Indian motives.

In the fashion-industry tattoo motives are used widely and wildly.

The most common and popular places to get a tattoo include the upper arm, chest and back. The bigger, the better. In women the popular places are breasts, shoulders, hips, buttocks and pelvis. Many women want a refined and elegant tattoo.

The danger en resistance of all sorts of viruses have put many tattoo artists to think about what to do to prevent these kind of complications. To make sure accidents don’t happen, there was a Union set up. This Union is called the ‘Dutch Union of tattoo artists’. Working closely together with the Local Health Authorities, strict rules are put on the working ways of every tattoo artist. Hygiene of materials and the shop are priority. The studio’s of Union members are inspected without any announcement beforehand. If the shops hygiene is granted, the Union and Local Health Authority will give the shop and tattoo artist(s) an official certificate. This way, the art of tattooing is protected and will give the client the chance to make sure you get your tattoo at a safe place. Sadly, there are still many amateurs active in the profession of tattooing, because the profession is not obliged to establishing-requirements.

Het taboe, dat lange tijd omtrent tatoeëring bestond, is doorbroken. In alle rangen en standen wordt het thans toegepast. Zij die zo gauw klaar staan om een ander te veroordelen en een etiket op te plakken, moeten zich maar laten nakijken.

The taboo that was hanging around tattoos for a long time experienced a break-through. Tattoos are now very, very common and are found in any range or ‘type’of people.