What’s the meaning behind tribal tattoos?
Often I am asked what tribal tattoos mean and why so many people want them. So I thought I would write a little history lesson for the people looking for some real information on this art form.
Tribal tattoo
TRIBAL TATTOOS are one of the most popular and ancient types of tattoos for many generations for many ethnicity’s. They have significant meaning for many cultures that date back thousands and thousands of years. This for of ink tends to be random patterns of lines and curves to create a form of abstract art.
Most tribal tattoos will tend to have a solid black design but some artists like to throw in various colors and shades to break up the design. Also since this tattoo is mostly large areas of solid black they will hold well with age.
But since this tattoo is solid black tattoo removal may be a little more difficult. So, make sure you are going to get a keeper because even trying to cover up a tribal tatt is almost impossible.
A lot of women love tribal tattoos on their lower back and they can be very sexy when done tastefully. Nothing gets me going like a sexy lower back with some tribal ink near the butt!
OK, back to the lesson……
Tribal designs are really ancient forms of art that came from various tribes such as Aztecs, Indian, Hawaiian, Borneo and Polynesian. The tribes used this for of art to represent meanings of social status, Medicinal purposes, to identify family members, etc. There are many different types of tribal tattoos but two of the most popular are:
History Of Tatoo- The Begning of Tattoo
When European travelers returned from Polynesia to Europe they brought with them tales of fabulous skin art & images that had been drawn to show how they had looked. A number of these travellers were even bearing some of these tattoos, people became more and more fascinated with the concept.
Tattoos
The sailors especially were keen to try out this new art form. The sailors and other westerners who visited Polynesia found natives who were skilled in creating tattoos and the sailors were willing subjects. That was until the colonizing missionary’s decided it was unholy and primitive and tried to stop the practice. They only succeeded in diving it underground and not eliminating it. As the Europeans continued to practice the art.
There were technological advances in design and colour and machines, that led to tattooing becoming more available in the U.S. developing a uniquely all American flavour. In 1846 in New York City the first tattoo shop was believed to have been set up by Martin Hildebrandt.
Where he began a tradition of inking soldiers both union and rebel, as well as sailors who got tattoos representing battles or significant events. King Edward VII was the first to start the fad among his peers in England when he got a tattoo before he ascended the throne.
It seems the perception of the Polynesians as being more primitive then the Europeans and Americans was some what skewed as they used the art of tattooing to reflect things like loyalty and devotion or to memorialize a heroic battle or simply to make abeautiful piece of enduring art. Which is what the Americans and Europeans did as well.
