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.

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 is a beguiling and intimate look at an untold history of humanity. The earliest tattoos yet identified belonged to Ötzi, the 'iceman', whose mummy allows us a brief glimpse into the prehistory of the practice. We know that over the more than five thousand years since he was tattooed, countless cultures have performed this ancient practice, and people in every corner of the world have been tattooed. For the most part, these fascinating histories remain stubbornly untold, and the secrets of Siberian princesses, Chinese generals and Victorian socialites have been hidden on the skin, under layers of clothing and under layers of history. Now 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 on tattooing, tells the stories of people like Arnaq, who was tattooed in keeping with her cultural and religious traditions in sixteenth-century Canada, and Horace Ridler, who was tattooed as a means to make money in 1930s London. And in between these two extremes, he describes tattoos inked for love, for loyalty, for sedition and espionage and for self-expression, as well as tattoos inflicted on the unwilling, to ostracise. Taken together, these twenty-one tattoos paint a portrait of humanity as both artist and canvas.

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.

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.

An essential A-Z guide to the secret language of tattoos. Discover the true meanings behind over 200 popular tattoos with this comprehensive book, illustrated with over 100 tattoo designs. From sailors' swallows and Mexican skulls to prisoners' barbed wire and intricate Maori patterns, tattoos have been used as a means of communication by cultures all over the world for thousands of years. Through meticulous research, The Tattoo Dictionary uncovers the history of the most popular symbols in tattoo history, revealing their hidden meanings and the long-forgotten stories behind them in this beautifully packaged book.

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.

The human desire to adorn the body is universal and timeless. While specific forms of body decoration and the motivations for them vary by region, culture, and era, all human societies have engaged in practices designed to augment and enhance people’s natural appearance. Tattooing, the process of inserting pigment into the skin to create permanent designs and patterns, is one of the most widespread forms of body art and was practiced by ancient cultures throughout the world, with tattoos appearing on human mummies by 3200 BCE. Ancient Ink, the first book dedicated to the archaeological study of tattooing, presents new, globe-spanning research examining tattooed human remains, tattoo tools, and ancient art. Connecting ancient body art traditions to modern culture through Indigenous communities and the work of contemporary tattoo artists, the volume’s contributors reveal the antiquity, durability, and significance of body decoration, illuminating how different societies have used their skin to construct their identities.

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

"A grand tour of the world's great tattoos"--Atlas Obscura "This book--part global art historical tome, part coffee-table book of visual wonders--is a valuable corrective to many silly things that we assume about tattooing."--The New Republic A lavishly illustrated global exploration of the vast array of styles and most significant practitioners of tattoo from ancient times to today Tattoo art and practice has seen radical changes in the 21st century, as its popularity has exploded. An expanding number of tattoo artists have been mining the past for lost traditions and innovating with new technology. An enormous diversity of styles, genres, and techniques has emerged, ranging from geometric blackwork to vibrant, painterly styles, and from hand-tattooed works to machine-produced designs. With over 700 stunning color illustrations, this volume considers historical and contemporary tattoo practices in Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, North and Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. Each section, dedicated to a specific geographic region, features fascinating text by tattoo experts that explores the history and traditions native to that area as well as current styles and trends. The World Atlas of Tattoo also tracks the movement of styles from their indigenous settings to diasporic communities, where they have often been transformed into creative, multicultural, hybrid designs. The work of 100 notable artists from around the globe is showcased in this definitive reference on a widespread and intriguing art practice.