Sailor Tattoos

A very large portion of maritime tattoos however were either image to used to mark a milestone in a sailor s life and voyage or reminders talismans or symbols of some sort.

Sailor tattoos. Sailor jerry s work typified this style of tattooing during the early mid twentieth century. When ships went down the crates floated and the animals inside would sometimes be the only survivors. Crossed anchors tattooed in the web of the hand between the thumb and index finger were a mark of being a boatswain mate someone who managed all activities relating to marlinspike deck boat seamanship painting upkeep of ship s external structure rigging deck equipment and boats. Sailor tattoos and their meanings.

Navy has a long tradition of tattoos. These skulls were basically inoculating sailors from death itself. Sailor jerry sailor tattoos code. Note tattoos butterfly and crucifix on sailor in center.

42 crewmen posing with axe bugle and drinking water tap scuttlebutt circa 1907 1908. Unlike other services the u s. Even though the world of tattoos has evolved and still keeps pushing its boundaries many enthusiasts are still drawn towards the old school flash tattoo designs inked by sailors. Anchors have become popular within general tattoo culture over the years but the symbolism is still the same.

At sea the anchor is the most secure object in a sailor s life making it the perfect representation of stability. While fighting in world war ii millions of servicemen found themselves on shore leave in honolulu where a retired navy man known as sailor jerry had set up his tattoo shop. This is why you ll often see anchor tattoos emblazoned with mom or the name of a sailor s sweetheart the people who keep them grounded. The navy shipped these animals in crates at the time.

These skulls represented the lives that had to face death on a regular basis. These types of tattoos were popular in sailor jerry s day because it was the marks of an adventure mercenary or warrior. From 1903 until 1928 villalobos served on the navy s china station a fertile ground for tattoos with the chinese dragon motif a particular symbol of service with the asiatic fleet nh 102669. The foot tattoos of pigs and roosters were worn by sailors in wwii in the hopes it would keep the sailor from drowning.

Learn about 19 popular nautical tattoo designs including what they mean and how a sailor earned the right to wear each symbol. Uss villalobos gunboat no. Old school tattoos were common among sailors depicting images like swallows on either side of the chest girls in sailor hats and pairs of dice. These tattoos obviously represent lovers or love that was left.

Sailor tattoos refer to a type of tattoo traditionally favored by sailors and the traditions that accompany these tattoos.