Oh, patents! Tattoos

Copyright © Françoise Herrmann

Got a tattoo?  Tattooing is a very ancient and multicultural practice. 

In an interesting and recently published article, in France's daily Le Monde, on the occasion of the Paris World Tattoo Convention, held on March 9-11, 2018, the long and global history of tattoos is spotlighted (Geoffroy, 2018).

Tattooing dates back thousands of years. The oldest known Iceman, nicknamed “Otzi” because he was found at the frontier of the Austrian and Italian border in the Otzal Alps, has tattoos on his chins. Otzi dates back to 3300 BC. His tattoos were made by rubbing charcoal on incisions in his skin.

The origin of the word “tattoo” is believed Polynesian. “Tatau” in Polynesian was a marker of social class, performed at various junctures of life, as far back as 1300 BC.

In Japan, during the Edo Period (1603 – 1868), criminals and prisoners were branded with tattoos on their forehead or forearms. Despite the negative connotations, people got body tattoos, called irezumi, until tattoos were outlawed in Japan, between 1872 and 1948.

In Europe, tattoos, considered pagan rituals, were outlawed by the Church in 728, citing the Old Testament Book of Leviticus 19:28 which forbids incisions to the skin, and images of God.  Tattoos then re-surfaced during the 18^th century, with sailors returning tattoed from Polynesia. 

In the Soviet Union, tattoos were also connected to the prison world. Prison tattoos tell stories, and code the criminal’s path.

In the US, the first patented tattooing machine dates back to 1891. The US patent US464801, titled Tattooing Machne, was awarded to Samuel F. Reilly, a citizen of New York State. The patent recites an improvement to tattooing machines, complete with an electromotor mounted on a combination tubular handle and ink reservoir, a guide to execute the designs, and a gage to regulate the depth at which the needle perforates the skin.  

Whether underground or highly fashionable, tattoos in the US have been here for a few centuries, and nothing indicates they will disappear anytime soon.  

Reference

Mondial du Tatouage (March 9-111, 2018)
http://www.mondialdutatouage.com/2018/

Geoffory, R. (2018 - March 10) Le tatouage un art primitif devenu populaire.

http://abonnes.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2018/03/10/le-tatouage-un-art-primitif-devenu-populaire_5268864_3246.html