In the year 1769, James Cook’s crew made their first voyage to the South Seas. It has been heard that some of the sailors in the crew adorned their bodies with some native Tahitians, to make their adventure in a foreign and strange culture memorable. These sailors were the first to bring this body art, previously known as ‘Tataus’, a native rite, as a fashion trend to Europe. The beginning of tattoos included only tribal symbols.
Little by little, in the 18th century, the practice of tattooing spread, especially among sailors. The British Navy is said to implement new tattoo patterns.
In the book “Journey Around the World” (1805) by the Russian Admiral Krusenstern, it is mentioned that all the sailors in his crew used to tattoo themselves when they were at sea. He will surprise you to know that tattooing was so popular then, as if getting tattooed was an obligation for all sailors. So when any tattoo artist was brought to the ship, he would hardly get all the sailors tattooed. You know, even Samuel O’Reilly mentioned that “A sailor without a tattoo is like a ship without a grog: unfit to sail.”
So most of the sailors tattoos were designed only by the natives. Gradually native tribal symbols merged with European designs. European designs used to include images of palm trees, exotic birds, ships, anchors, pin-ups, or lighthouses. These were the memories of his visits to the South Seas. These marine designs had a different meaning for each person who wore the tattoo. Each design represents a relationship with the sailor’s homeland, the people who stay there. For a select few, specially designed tattoos were meant to be their good luck charm. Whereas, these designs in today’s world are considered as ancient traditional tattoos.
Sailors gradually tried to master the art of tattooing. They used to practice tattooing on their ships, on the lava shore, and others as well. This was the reason why most professional tattoo shops were established in or near seaports around the world. Tattoo shops were mostly owned by former sailors. They used to tattoo others in the old native way only because there was no alternative: a tattoo comb was made of bones and tusks, which was attached to a wooden stick, dipped in ink. It is then pushed into the skin to form the tattoos. Finally, in 1891, Samuel O’Reilly made it easier for tattoo artists by inventing the electromechanical tattoo machine.