Tattoo. Tatau

When Captain Cook landed on the islands of Polynesia he saw tattooed men and women. Some members of his crew were so taken by them that they got tattoos themselves. Thus began the revolution of tattoos throughout Europe. The actual word tattoo derived from the Polynesian word Tatau.

At first it was sailors that had tattoos. But eventually members of all classes even Royalty had tattoos.

Polynesians all over Polynesia have traditional markings. These depicted their status in society, their tribe etc. Ta moko the Maori traditional tattoo has special significance to. Their tribal affiliations, their status in that tribe and their achievements each bore its own unique Ta moko, on the body and the face.

There is archaeological evidence that prehistoric peoples tattooed themselves. Tools used for tattoos found in ancient digs show proof that tattoos have been around for a long time. In fact the oldest tattooed mummy in the Otz valley in the Alps. Otzi the iceman dates back from the 5th to the 4th millennium BC.

Ancient Egyptian mummies were often shown with tattoos. Theses were often associated with healing practices. They were also used as signs of religious worship.

The Greeks often used tattoos as a form of punishment as well as branding slaves to stop then escaping. Many Roman soldiers had tattooed dots on their arms. Which is the mark of SPQR ( Senatus Populusque Romanus) to depict that they belonged to a specific unit or membership.

Europeans all over have histories of tattooing. The crusaders they say had a cross tattooed on their hand so if they fell in battle God would recognize them.

For Coptic priests it was mandatory to have a small cross tattooed on their hand. The cross was between the thumb and forefinger. It also became fashionable for pilgrims to the Holy Land to have a tattoo. Usually from a Christian artist in Jerusalem to show that they were there.

When Japan opened up to the west in 1868. Everything Japanese became the latest fad. This included Japanese tattoos. Tattoos from Japan became so popular that tattoo shops opened up everywhere in Japan. Merchants trading their goods to the Japanese, wealthy travelers and even Royalty. would often return home bearing a Japanese tattoo. Upon returning home to America or Europe their friends would desire a tattoo also.

The history of British tattoos began in about 1900's. That is when a man named Sutherland Macdonald set himself up. He was the first and for a while the only professional tattoo artist in Britain. Before he became a tattoo artist he was already a well known artist. The transition to tattoo artist was easy for him. His little shop was upstairs from a Turkish bath at #76 Jermyn Street. Those stairs saw many clients from all walks of life climb them. Macdonald's tattoos were legendary. In fact even to this day he's considered the greatest of tattoo artists. He patented an electric tattoo machine which sped the process. Thus tattoos were available to everybody.

That is why for a while tattoos became common place for the rough and ready members of society. Because of this tattoos fell out of favor. But today their is a renaissance and tattoos are again becoming fashionable. Police, ambulance drivers, firemen, Pop stars and actors are brandishing tattoos.

Today there are many outstanding tattoo artists one such man is Min Zumi. A South Korean born artist specializing in Traditional Japanese tattoos. he also has mastered the tattoo patch technique. Where his tattoo looks like a patch on a clients skin. The man considered to be the worlds best artist is Guido Schmitz his tattoos are very well sought after. One of the top female tattoo artists is Valerie Vargas, her images are also very unique.

I could go on down the line of great modern tattoo artists. But space does not permit and I think that is all I need to say. So if you want to get Skin then please make sure your design is what you want. Remember it is permanent. ( Laser treatment aside) If in doubt you can get non permanent markings, most tattoo shops have both.