Painted People: Humanity in 21 Tattoos


Book Description

In 1881, a writer in the Saturday Review called tattooing ‘an art without a history’. ‘No-one’, it went on, ‘has made it the business of his life to study the development of tattooing.’ Until now.




Painted People


Book Description

In 1881, a writer in the Saturday Review called tattooing 'an art without a history.' 'No-one', it went on, 'has made it the business of his life to study the development of tattooing.' For all of human history, we have made permanent marks on our skin - for multifarious, fascinating, reasons. The oldest preserved tattooed skin that survives is European: Ötzi, the famous 'Iceman' mummy, whose body is covered in small tattoo marks, allows us a brief glimpse into the pre-history of the practice. Since then, people in every corner of the world have decided to tattoo themselves, and countless cultures have performed this ancient artistic practice. But for the most part, these fascinating histories remain stubbornly untold - glorious characters, unbelievable truths and the lives of people from 5000 BCE to the present day have been hidden on the skin, under layers of clothing, and under layers of history. With access to a wealth of new and unreported material, this book will roll up its sleeves and reveal the artwork hidden beneath them. In Painted People, Dr Matt Lodder, one of the world's foremost experts in tattooing will reveal what tattoos - and the people who wore them - tell us about a changing world. Painted People is a beguiling and intimate look at this untold history of humanity.







Wear Your Dreams


Book Description

The memoir of iconic tattoo artist Hardy from his beginnings in 1960's California, to leading the tattoo renaissance and building his name into a hugely lucrative international brand.




Bodies of Subversion


Book Description

"In this provocative work full of intriguing female characters from tattoo history, Margot Mifflin makes a persuasive case for the tattooed woman as an emblem of female self-expression." —Susan Faludi Bodies of Subversion is the first history of women’s tattoo art, providing a fascinating excursion to a subculture that dates back into the nineteenth-century and includes many never-before-seen photos of tattooed women from the last century. Author Margot Mifflin notes that women’s interest in tattoos surged in the suffragist 20s and the feminist 70s. She chronicles: * Breast cancer survivors of the 90s who tattoo their mastectomy scars as an alternative to reconstructive surgery or prosthetics. * The parallel rise of tattooing and cosmetic surgery during the 80s when women tattooists became soul doctors to a nation afflicted with body anxieties. * Maud Wagner, the first known woman tattooist, who in 1904 traded a date with her tattooist husband-to-be for an apprenticeship. * Victorian society women who wore tattoos as custom couture, including Winston Churchill’s mother, who wore a serpent on her wrist. * Nineteeth-century sideshow attractions who created fantastic abduction tales in which they claimed to have been forcibly tattooed. “In Bodies of Subversion, Margot Mifflin insightfully chronicles the saga of skin as signage. Through compelling anecdotes and cleverly astute analysis, she shows and tells us new histories about women, tattoos, public pictures, and private parts. It’s an indelible account of an indelible piece of cultural history.” —Barbara Kruger, artist




Memoirs of a Tattooist


Book Description

George "Professor" Burchett was arguably the most famous tattoo artist in the UK and Europe throughout the first half of the twentieth century. With a career spanning over fifty years he tattooed everyone from servicemen to royalty and earning himself the title of 'King of Tattooists'. Finding an early love for the art of tattooing he was expelled from school at age 12 for tattooing his classmates and joined the Royal Navy at age 13. He developed his tattooing skills while traveling overseas in the Navy. He constantly designed new tattoos from his worldwide travel, incorporating African, Japanese and Southeast Asian motifs into his work. In the 1930s, he developed cosmetic tattooing with such techniques as permanently darkening eyebrows. He continued tattooing until his death in 1953 at the age of 80.




Knives & Ink


Book Description

From New York Times bestselling illustrator Wendy MacNaughton and bestselling author Isaac Fitzgerald--the stories behind the tattoos that chefs proudly wear, with their signature recipes. Winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals [IACP] Cookbook Design Award. Chefs take their tattoos almost as seriously as their knives. From gritty grill cooks in backwoods diners to the executive chefs at the world's most popular restaurants, it's hard to find a cook who doesn't sport some ink. Knives & Ink features the tattoos of more than sixty-five chefs from all walks of life and every kind of kitchen, including 2014 James Beard Award-winner Jamie Bissonnette, Alaska-fishing-boat cook Mandy Lamb, Toro Bravo's John Gorham, and many more. Each tattoo has a rich, personal story behind it: Danny Bowien of Mission Chinese Food remembers his mother with fiery angel wings on his forearms, and Dominique Crenn of Michelin two-starred Atelier Crenn bears ink that reminds her to do “anything in life that you put your heart into.” Like the dishes these chefs have crafted over the years, these tattoos are beautiful works of art. Knives & Ink delves into the wide and wonderful world of chef tattoos and shares their fascinating backstories, along with personal recipes from many of the chefs.




1000 Tattoos


Book Description

Wearable art: An exploration of tattoos past and present For many, tattoos are a way of life. From lovers' names to elaborate dragons, anything and everything has been inscribed on the skin in the name of passion. Whether you're thinking of getting a tattoo or just want to see to what lengths others have gone in decorating their bodies, this is the book to check out. This special 25th anniversary edition of Tattoos explores the history of the art worldwide via designs and photos--from 19th century engravings to tribal body art, from circus ladies of the 20s to classic biker designs--giving a fascinating insight into the art form that has become a cultural instition the world over. Text in English, French, and German




TTT: Tattoo


Book Description

Over the past decade, tattoos have become one of the most popular forms of visual culture in the world. TTT: Tattoo is a survey of over 300 of the best international tattooers working today, including Duncan X, Tomas Tomas, Scott Campbell, the Leu family and Stephanie Tamez. Exploring the connections between tattoo culture today and seminal figures and developments in the recent past, the book examines how the historical styles of this most enduring art form blend into new ones.




Tales from the Old School of Tattooing


Book Description

Sean Hobden was the youngest member of the Old Timers Tattoo Club when it was formed in 1989. He was privileged to hear the stories of the last of the old time character showmen tattooists when tattooing was still a part of the underworld and hadn't yet gone mainstream and become popularised. Now you can hear the stories of the legends of tattooing from the last century that were told to the author first hand. Read how street shop walk in tattooists dealt with the many drunks and long queues. Humorous accounts and anecdotes of Ron Ackers, Painless Jeff, Cockney Paul, Benn Gun, Barry Louvaine, Charlie bell, Jock of Kings Cross and many more. Many old time trade secrets such as “Three waying” and the “Vanity sink” are revealed, as they are no longer needed in modern tattooing. The book also covers old school politics and serves as a social history of the last part of the previous century. The book now has it's own website so that you can see photos of characters in the book please visit seanhobden.com"I found this book to be compulsive reading and incredibly hard to put down" Total Tattoo Magazine"I often find the best example of a good read is one that cannot be put down. I read this book in one night" Gladstone Magazine"Many of the stories are hilarious, full of dry wit and humour,blended with warmth and affection" Total Tattoo Magazine"A laugh a minute rollercoaster of tattoo madness.This is a book you need on your shelf"Tattoo Master Magazine




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