Old School Tattoos: A classic in the tattoo scene

Old School Tattoos: What do you mean and where do you come from?

Nowadays Old School Tattoos are a real statement, but in the 1920s they were even absolute tattoo standard and especially popular among seafarers and soldiers. The color -intensive and striking motifs are easy to recognize even after many years and give their wearers something rough and hard. But what do roses, bottles, swords and pin ups mean and where do the different motifs come from? We have summarized everything worth knowing about the Old School Tattoo Style:

The story of the Old School Tattoos

In western culture, the tattoo cult spread mainly in the 1920s. The American Norman Keith Collins "Sailor Jerry" is considered the founder of the Old School Tattoo Styles. The Navy soldier learned the tattoo art there in south-east Asia and settled in Hawaii after his navy career. There he tattooed Seemänner and brave travelersthat carried the style out into the world. The tattoostyle has experienced another upswing since the 1990s and is almost socially acceptable today.

What signals an old school tattoo?

Modern, filigree tattoo trends can hardly be combined with old school tattoos-the rough motifs are probably still popular among tattoo fans. With an old school motif, you violate rules: against social norms, against expectations and against trends that come and go. An old school tattoo says: I whistle on it. If you can identify with this message and like color -intensive, striking motifs on the skin, the tattoostyle is exactly your thing.

Popular old school motifs and their meaning

If you look at the galleries of Old School Tattoo Artists, you will certainly notice that some motifs keep appearing and apparently belonging to every tattooed body. Typical old school motifs are symbols of war such as weapons, blood or skulls as well as predators and sailor motifs (ships, anchors and seamen). Our old school guide shows which motif suits you:

1. Old School tattoos for freedom -loving and natural boys

• Seemänner or Indian are often shown without a body (head or bust). They serve as protective cartridges for their carriers.
• Indian motifs In general stand for closeness to nature and inner calm (Indian jewelry, tipis, death sensation, weapons, tools).
• Also Predator are often only depicted upwards (even entire bodies occur). They often inflate their teeth, show their claws and should look as threatening as possible. Wolves, bears, pumas, eagles and other American animals are most frequently stabbed.
• Ships stand for travel, in the literal and figurative sense.
• The typical old school Swallow There have been popular on the chest since the 1920s.
• Landscapes are mostly framed and are reminiscent of travel destinations and favorite places from the past.

2. Old School tattoos for romantics and lonely wolves

• Heart (broken, impaled or burning) are very popular motifs under old school fans.
• Knife and swords stand for heartache and should give their providers inner strength.
• Key and locks adorn the chest, abdomen or arms of your straps. These motifs were added over the decades and are now particularly popular with female tattoofans.
• PIN-ups, mermaids and sexually looking women's motifs have been worn since the 1950s (mainly by men).
• Roses are often combined with dead heads, barbed wire or weapons and give motifs a romantic touch (which sometimes deliberately looks campy-kitschy).
• Cherries stand for the temptation, for the playful and for enjoyment.

3. Old school tattoos for fearless

• Toten heads, scythms and skeletons serve as lucky charms or as memories. Nowadays, Mexican dead masks are often stung in the old school style.
• Modern and historical weapons (Knorty weapons, grenades, rifles, pistols, modern also impact rings) give their wearers courage and also serve as a memory of their own mortality.
• Dagger symbolize justice and pain. Many old school fans can be tattooed on the forearm or in the middle of the neck.
• Dice represent the unknown, the future and fate/happiness. In the rockabilly scene there are cubes and Playing cards therefore popular motifs. 4. Other popular old school motifs and their meaning
• Of the nautical star or compass stands for willpower and unwaverability. As early as the 1920s, seafarers liked to get a signpost under the skin.
• Patriotic Old School Tattoos represent flags, heraldic animals or outlines of states.
• Modern tattoo artists can make almost any motif an appealing old school motif. Skylines, auto parts and tools from certain professional groups as well as other objects such as paper ships, hourglasses, sweets and lipsticks are often desired in the old school style.

What should you pay attention to when stinging an old school tattoo?

Old school tattoos are characterized by thick, black outlines and large colored areas. This is because the tattoo technique was still very rough at the time of Sailor Jerry and that motifs quickly lost shape and color. Despite smaller changes, the simple motifs were still easy to recognize even after years. Today, tattoo artists mostly use broad instruments that consist of several small needles that are engraved in parallel in the skin. The single -colored surfaces tend to form bark formation - therefore everyone must pay attention to everyone Care tips Your tattoo artist!