Sailor Desmond’s Tattoo Parlor

Wood with metal handles on both ends, 9 x 23 x 12 inches

Gest Collection

1968.149

Tattooing in the early 20^th Century was not very common in America. Compared to Europe and Asia, sailors were normally the only people to have them. This would soon change when more people started entering the United States with tattoos on their skin. Most people considered these tattooed people freaks, which then led them to be put on display in freak shows and circus acts. People would come from all over to see this displaying of artwork on the skin of people.[1]

After the decline of these shows, tattoos were associated with the dirtier areas of town. With the invention of the electric tattoo machine  around the same time, tattooing became popular for ordinary people as well as sailors. This type of tattooing was known as flash tattooing. The artists would hang up their drawings for people to pick from. Most of the flash tattooing designs were very similar. The “mom” tattoos, as well as pin up girls were featured in flash design.[2] The example of flash is displayed with the object in this collection. It was during this time that many tattoo shops started appearing in port towns and featuring military flash designs particularly designed for the marines and navy soldiers in that area.

Different tattoos on sailors represented certain things that they had accomplished during their time served, and it was also a way to show all the places they had traveled to. A turtle on the back of the legs indicated that he had been to the equator. A rope around the wrist meant that he was a dock hand.   A cross on the bottom of each foot was supposed to help keep the sharks away. It is thought that a rooster and a pig on the ankles would prevent the sailor from drowning. An anchor most likely meant the sailor spent time in the Atlantic or they were a merchant marine. The very popular Hula girl came from the World War II era after the sailor spent time in Hawaii. The sight of a swallow while at sea was a great sight to many of the sailors, as this meant land was close. The swallow is known for always returning home, therefore the sailor would return home as well. Another meaning behind the swallow is that a sailor would get this after he had traveled 5,000 nautical miles. This was normally placed on the chest. The more swallows a sailor had on his chest, the more respect he earned. Finally, the words “Hold Fast” tattooed on knuckles meant the sailor would not drop a line or fall overboard.[3]

For more information about this history of tattoos and the use of early machines, visit The National Tattoo Museum.

Blog Entry Prepared by Leslin Ossoff, Collections Intern 

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[1] http://www.randomhistory.com/2008/07/26_tattoo.html

[2] http://blog.nyhistory.org/a-short-incomplete-history-of-american-traditional-tattooing/ 

[3] http://www.military-history.org/articles/war-culture-maritime-tattoos.htm