TATTOO. 1730s-1970s. Henk Schiffmacher’s Private Collection

by Henk Schiffmacher, Noel Daniel (Editor)

One part history book, one part art book, and one part fascinating memoir, this book is an overview of more than two centuries of tattoo history intermixed with an intimate look at the lives of tattoo artists, and the personal struggles and triumphs, occupational hazards, and artistic courage that have defined so much of this history. For the last forty years, Henk Schiffmacher has poured his heart and soul into his collection, amassing tattoo drawings, designs, photographs, and artifacts from around the world. Each of the book’s five chapters features many never-before-seen highlights from this collection and includes lithographs, etchings, tattooing instruments, paintings, photographs, posters, shop signs, original drawings, and tattoo designs known in the business as flash, among them extremely rare vintage flash sheets from major players in early Western tattooing. The vastness and variety of tattooing around the world is chronicled in the book’s 700+ images, including the indigenous tattooing of the Maori and South Pacific islanders, the ancient traditions of Asia, and the origins of old-school Western tattooing in Europe and the United States. The book also features a dozen original illustrations by Schiffmacher in his inimitable style, as well as a personal introduction describing Schiffmacher’s own journey as both an artist and a collector that has shaped his view of the art’s journey from the underground to the mainstream. Schiffmacher brings a fascinating perspective to tattoo history through his personal reflections and wild tales of adventure. In this book, we learn not only about the history of tattooing, but also about the adventures behind the making of one of the largest tattoo collections in the world, by a self-taught tattoo artist in love with the art and its innovators.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction, History

439 pages, Hardcover

Published November 17, 2020

Reviews

[Chaunceton Bird · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent highlight reel of some of the biggest names is western tattooing. Packed with crisp images of flash work from the mid-1800s to the mid-1900s.

[Alanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful book of trad tattoo history, clearly a lot of love and time went into this project and it’s very valuable culturally as well as for the preservation of art. Our industry has pretty minimal written histories, and as this book explains, sometimes reliant on word of mouth and secrecy. This collection makes this part of history and experience far more personable; if I could give this more stars, I would.

[Serena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Libro molto interessante che racconta la storia dei tatuaggi nelle diverse culture e nei diversi periodi storici partendo dal vasto materiale collezionato dall'autore.
Interessante vedere che i tatuaggi sono sempre stati una parte importante della società e non una moda più recente come si pensa comunemente.
Mi è piaciuto soprattutto per la passione dell'autore per l'argomento trattato, che ho percepito durante la lettura del libro

[Laura Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. This book was filled with interesting information and so many pictures of interesting tattoos. It’s the perfect length book to give as a gift to someone who isn’t all that crazy about reading. (In fact that’s the entire reason I read this book, because it’s a gift for a not very bookish friend)

[Pepe Del Amo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado bastante aunque creo que queda un buen libro por escribir recopilando la historia y las distintas tradiciones y tendencias del tatuaje. Este libro, de todos modos, es café para muy cafeteros. Gracias S. por el regalo.

[Peter Lipták · Rating 5 out of 5]

Monumentálna kniha rozmermi a epická obsahom.

[Brian Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

an amazing collection of tattoo images!

[Reynolds · Rating 5 out of 5]

The images alone are worth the price but the words of Henk Schiffmacher make it a 5 star/must have book on my shelf.

[Erik B.K.K. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wat zal ik zeggen. Een boek vol tattoo-plaatjes. Veel van hetzelfde. De teksten zijn oninteressant. Alleen voor de diehard tattoo-fan.

[Eloise · Rating 5 out of 5]

would recommend to anyone interested in traditional tattooing. a goldmine of knowledge, memories, and visual archives

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating historical tattoo imagery and biographical information on the worldwide pioneers of tattooing. A must-own for any enthusiast.