tattoos

Tribal Tattoos

Most of the designs we call
tribal tattoos are from the
South Pacific Polynesian.
They were originally brought
home by sailors who visited
these islands.
They are usually black with
the black being the tattooed
portion and the skin making the space in between the linear or more
commonly spiralling designs.
Originally they told the story of a person and the deeds he (or he
and his family) had accomplished.

In the Philippines the natives were

headhunters and a tattoo would be given

when a young man had gotten his first head.

Usually all over his upper torso.

In Somoa they were indications of rank in the
tribe. These were full bodied tattoos and took
a long time to complete. In addition to this
they were very painful. If a young man was
unwilling to complete the tattoo because of the pain it brought great
dishonor to him and his family.
Young women were also tattooed to add to their beauty and as a rite
of passage into adulthood. In some areas the young women who
couldn't stand the tattooing would be considered unable to
withstand childbirth and wouldn't be very valuable as a wife.
All of these tattoos were done using very crude instruments and the
risk of infection and death was high. The black was generally made
from ash from the fire pits. Nevertheless, not going through the
tattooing process would leave the man labeled a coward and the
woman unworthy. This was completely unacceptable.
It is important to remember that most tribal art was done in black
as few other colors were available to the them.
Now almost any black geometric shape will pass as tribal art. This
art usually has no meaning other than the one in the tattooed
persons head.
The geometric designs are quite beautiful and it is speculated by
many that the person seeking tribal tattoos is attempting to belong
to a tribe of their own.
Below are a few examples of modern tribal tattoos.