Old school snake tattoo designs. Old School Tattoos: Review and History. Pin-up girls in Old School tattoo

Old School tattoos became popular in the 1920s. The main characteristic features of tattoos in the Old School style are big and bold looks done in solid color, having a bold outline of parts in black or blue. The reason for this appearance is the methods used to create tattoos back when it began, which are very different from those used today. Since the quality of the machines and inks were not very good, the designs were kept simple and printed to ensure they would wear well over time.

Another reason that the tattoos were simple is the unprofessionalism of the artists who tattooed them, therefore drawing simple pictures was a greater guarantee of a good final result. The third reason for the simplicity of the images was the stencils. Before the tattoo design was cut out, acetate and powdered charcoal were rubbed into the etchings before being applied to the skin. Charcoal is very quick to lubricate and hence a simple design is essential.

The father of the Old School tattoo style was, of course, “Sailor Jerry” Collins., who enlisted in the US Navy at an early age and was introduced to the art of tattooing during his travels to Polynesia, where tattoos were already very common. The young man later moved to Hawaii, where he opened a tattoo shop that quickly became a favorite destination for sailors crossing these waters.

There are many symbols used in Old School Tattoos(you can check out the work of our tattoo artists here: old school tattoos): the most popular tattoo images are usually patriotic symbols, birds, pin-ups, ships, snakes, anchors, hearts, daggers, pistols, starfish, roses, cherries and mermaids.

Review of images used in Old School Tattoo

Old School Rose Tattoo

The rose tattoo is quite a simple classic design with a simple meaning - true love. The rose is often depicted alone or with other objects such as daggers, skulls and birds.

Cherry in an Old School tattoo

Tattooed cherry is another very popular choice, especially in rockabilly. The cherry symbolizes lust, fertility, sexuality, and a clear message as if saying, "Hey, take me..."

Dagger in Old School Tau

The dagger symbolizes justice, war and death. A popular location for this tattoo was the forearms of military personnel. In ancient times, people armed with daggers were the last line of defense, after guns, sabers and heavy weapons. The dagger was the last line of defense before surrender. The dagger symbolizes a warrior ready for anything, ready to fight until his last breath. The meaning may vary depending on the combination with other images, such as a heart, skull, snake or pink rose.

Dice in Old School Tattoo

Dice is very popular all over the world and especially among Asian cultures. Its meaning is clearly related to luck and changes depending on the number you have to roll on the cube. For example, if a 2 is rolled (like snake eyes) it means bad luck, if the combination shows a 7 it becomes a symbol of good luck. The image of dice in a tattoo is often combined with other images such as fire and movie actresses.

Old School Heart Tattoo

Heart tattoos usually contain a name, such as a mother's name or the name of a loved one. The meaning speaks for itself. This symbol is often used to remember a lost love.

Old School Mermaid Tattoo

Mermaids are mythical creatures known for their ability to lure sailors with their beauty, cloud their minds and destroy their ships on the rocks. The image of a mermaid symbolizes the power of feminine energy and the danger of losing everything due to lust and temptation.

Guiding Star in Old School Tattoo

Guiding stars are usually depicted as five-pointed stars with two shades - light and shadow. Traditionally, stars are associated with the old school of sailors and these symbols are often accompanied by roses, compasses and other nautical instruments. The stars represent the sailor's ability to find his way home, just like the compass. However, the star is one of the lesser known symbols used only to express this specific meaning, and is often used in combination with other objects popular in old school tattoos.

Patriotic Old School Tattoos

The subjects of patriotic tattoos are numerous popular images such as flags, military emblems, everything aimed at showing a person’s attachment to his nation. Their popularity peaked during the First and Second World Wars, when they were used to reflect hope and desire for victory, and an attitude towards war that should be avoided.

Ships and Galleons in Old School Tattoo

Ships represent freedom and the spirit of adventure. These ships have nothing in common with modern Navy ships, they were - sailing ships, as a rule, were depicted beautifully and with all possible richness of color.

Snake in Old School Tattoo

The snake is a popular symbol in many cultures around the world. Old legends use the image of a snake as the main character, and the Bible itself gives Gad a key role in the creation of humanity. The meaning of the snake symbol varies depending on the culture, it can also represent the thin line connecting life and death. Due to its ability to replace its skin, the snake can symbolize rebirth or the beginning of a new life.

Sparrow in Old School Tattoo

Tattoos with a sparrow do not mean the same thing as tattoos with a swallow. The two sparrows represent the eternal love between lovers, love, for those who have been imprisoned, also emphasizing the freedom of spirit after several years of imprisonment.

Swallow in Old School Tattoo

In sailing, swallows indicate good luck: when this bird is seen from a boat, it means that land is somewhere nearby. Swallows are also famous for the fact that, as you know, they could always find their way home, no matter how far they flew from their nests. This symbolism is the reason why swallows have become one of the most popular tattoos for sailors.

Pin-up girls in Old School tattoo

These images have no specific meaning, however they are some of the most popular tattoos in old school tattooing.

Old School Eagle Tattoo

The eagle tattoo is a popular patriotic symbol of the United States Navy. This image represents courage, honor, friendship, power, freedom and strength. For Native Americans, the eagle represents symbolism of grace and balance between heaven and earth and has a deep spiritual meaning: The eagle flies close to the sun - the Creator of earthly life.

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The Old School tattoo, literally translated, sounds like “old school.” Indeed, tattoos in the Old School style have a rather long history, which dates back to the Middle Ages of the last millennium. It was then that the era of navigation began. As a result, many new lands were discovered, where the first travelers and their followers encountered many interesting things. Since in those ancient times there were no modern technologies for tattooing, and sailors could not boast of special wealth, Old School tattoos were simple and uncomplicated.

Characteristic features of the Old School style

It is safe to say that the trendsetters in the direction of Old School tattoos were sailors. Their working conditions were extremely difficult and dangerous. Risking their lives was an everyday occurrence for them.

Tattooing was done for the following purposes:

Creating protection from danger. A man's chest tattoo was a kind of amulet against dark forces. Such protection could not be accidentally lost. She was always with her owner. An old school tattoo of a lighthouse, anchor or ship symbolized hope for a safe return from a voyage.
Preserving the memory of a beloved woman left on the shore. Old school tattoos of a heart, rings, roses, flowers and a woman’s face reminded the wanderer of those who were waiting for him from a long and dangerous voyage.
Memory of significant events that occurred during the journey. Images of objects that made the strongest impression on the sailors were applied to the body. Quite often there were quotes and statements from celebrities.

Gradually, tattooing became popular among ordinary residents who had a desire to stand out from the crowd and commemorate their achievements. The meaning of Old School tattoos played no less a role for them than for sea adventurers. Over time, Old School tattoos of an owl, a wolf and a skull appeared, with which certain ideas about luck and success were associated.

Old School tattoo technology

Since the impressions of what they saw in distant countries were quite vivid, Old School tattoos were made in a colorful and eye-catching image. A wide range of ink colors were used to print them. The photo of the Old School tattoo clearly shows how expressive the images are.

Today, not only sailors and travelers are adherents of this trend. It is used by everyone who wants to express themselves in this way. Often, images do not have deep subtext. The main thing in them is the aesthetic component and brightness.

Before you decide to get an Old School tattoo, you need to familiarize yourself with various catalogs that contain samples of images collected over the past decades.

It is not necessary to copy them exactly. It's likely that someone has already used one of them for themselves. Using modern computer technology, you can create your own sketch. By following this path, you can be absolutely sure that such a tattoo will be unique.

A tattoo artist will help you completely “polish” the sketch. A real specialist will add, subtract or change colors so that they better suit the visitor’s image. Considering that the old school style does not have strict rules and restrictions, it is quite acceptable to take some tattoo techniques from ethnic styles.

After approval of the sketch, it is transferred to the skin. Tattooing is carried out both using an induction machine and manually. The filling time depends on the size and complexity of the tattoo. Based on these factors, the price of the final product is formed.

A typical old school tattoo is a bright, multi-colored design with bold black outlines. The most common plots at all times are:

Anchor. This symbol means hope and faith in the best. Sailors from all over the world have a very reverent attitude towards this sign.
Martin. A very popular symbol representing the long-awaited return home. Swallows living near land have always been good news for sailors about the end of a long journey.
Heart. Romantic natures cannot live without love and without the object of their adoration. The old school heart is the personification of faithful male love in all its manifestations.
Rose. A symbol of pure selfless love. This tattoo is old school in its brightest and most typical manifestation.
Mermaid. The image of mythical creatures is one of the key themes of old school tattooing. It is the personification of female beauty in its unusual interpretation, as well as a magical symbol of the transition to a new level of existence.
Horseshoe. This symbol means good luck and faith in the best. Often the horseshoe is depicted with a clover leaf combined with an encouraging motto.
Pinup. A typical old school depiction of a beautiful and at the same time unapproachable woman. Old school colonels are considered the personification of inspiration, a kind of muse in the person of an ideal beauty.
Scull. This old school tattoo is very popular nowadays. It symbolizes the transience of life and the immortality of the human soul.
Ribbon with inscription. The application of mottos and wise expressions is one of the features of the philosophy of old school tattooing. Often, ribbons with inscriptions are wrapped around hearts, skulls, horseshoes, anchors and other pictures typical of this style.

Old school tattooing is incredibly popular today, despite the fact that there are many alternative forms of body art. Old school remains a kind of stronghold of the classical philosophy of tattooing. Bright, beautiful pictures are actively being collected by fans of body painting in a variety of places. Typical male locations:

Girls most often choose places such as:

Hips;
Hands;
Small of the back;
Stomach;
Back.

Celebrities

Old school tattoos are very popular among celebrities. The most prominent fans of this direction of body art:

Travis Barker;
John Mayer;
Johnny Depp.

Old school tattoo

"Old school" is a traditional style of tattooing in Europe and America, the history of which dates back to the end of the 19th century.

The most common designs in this direction are skulls, hearts, ribbons, angels, crosses, fire, flowers, anchors.

Such tattoos were often given to sailors, so it is not uncommon to see inscriptions with the names of people, names of memorable events, and sayings in “Old school”. These images are usually executed in bright colors, framed by a thick black outline.

I would like to pay more attention to history and symbols:

Sailors were the first to revive the art and practice of tattooing in the West, as they were the first to visit the Polynesian islands in the Pacific Ocean and other countries in Southeast Asia. Captain Cook, in his famous explorations of Tahiti, Hawaii and New Zealand, was the first to record and sketch the tattoos of the indigenous people in 1786. The word "tattoo" came into English from the Tahitian word, "ta-ttow", which resembled the sound when Polynesians tattooed with their traditional Polynesian implements.
Life at sea was very harsh, and only the strongest men survived. The sailors, constantly at the mercy of the wind and sea and dependent on all the whims of Mother Nature, were very superstitious, and firmly believed that a tattoo would protect them from falling overboard, from the mouth of a shark, from a shipwreck. Tattoos of a certain type were made when crossing the equator, or when they rounded Cape Horn, when visiting the countries of the East, etc., common tattoos among sailors were sailing ships on the chest, as well as cannons on the loins of the body. Despite their riotous lifestyle, many of them completely tattooed prayers or other religious texts on themselves; this was supposed to remind them of piety and protect them from severe corporal punishment. And of course, many sailors at sea often thought about their families and girls whom they left in port, or even in several ports! Therefore, tattoos of mermaids and girls, hearts and names of loved ones, amulets - anchors, talismans - swallows and dolphins have always been popular with sailors and subsequently formed a whole layer in tattooing of the 19th-20th centuries - old school (OLD SCHOOL).

Anchor

The classic old-school design, one of the most popular tattoos in the West over the last two centuries, and with ancient symbolic roots going back several millennia, was considered a symbol to help one stay on track, about the ability to withstand winds and currents and remain oneself when under any circumstances. Anchor tattoos were tattooed on people closely associated with a maritime or naval career; this tattoo is especially close to sailors around the world, often performed after the first crossing of the Atlantic. Other synonyms for anchor are sailing ships, mermaids and other navigational symbols.

Martin

The swallow tattoo (the bird of happiness and good luck) shows the enduring popularity of the art of tattooing in sailing. Traditionally, a swallow is a tattoo that a sailor gets after traveling 5,000 nautical miles. For a sailor, a swallow symbolizes a safe return home, because the appearance of a swallow is “the first sign that land is nearby.” Swallows, as you know, travel long distances, making long flights across water spaces; during the flight they sat down to rest on passing ships, thereby signaling to sailors that land was close. After traveling 10,000 miles, a sailor could make a second bird on the second side of his body. A pair of swallows is a sign of a good trip.

Rock of Ages

(image of Jesus Christ, allegory) - classic tattoo. It served as a symbol of hope, protection and support, and was a kind of amulet and talisman, for example, for sailors. Having tattooed words such as "Hold on!" it instilled hope and faith in sailors and also served as an amulet. Other symbols showed that the sailor had crossed the Equator, rounded Cape Horn or visited the Far East, for example. Another version of the cross and/or Jesus Christ tattoo was that a religious symbol tattooed on the sailor's back could mitigate the disciplinary (often corporal) imposed ) penalty, and such a sailor would probably be punished less severely. Another popular tattoo that has been around for decades depicts a sailor or man kneeling in front of a cross carved from solid stone. A person's Christian faith is often referred to as the rock, the foundation on which a virtuous life is built. This was based on the belief that a house or building was only as strong as the foundation on which it was built. The stone cross was known for a long time as the "Rock of Ages" or the sailor's cross.

Navigational star or compass rose

An ancient, and yet not at all outdated tattoo motif, known a century ago. The stars in the sky often served as a guide for sailors, especially the Northern or Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere, as well as the Southern Cross in the Southern. Sailors tattooed navigation stars because they relied on them, their lives depended on it, the stars were supposed to show the way home, and the sailors were very superstitious people and hoped that their star-shaped tattoos would serve as an amulet for a safe journey. Around the same time, the starfish began to appear on compasses. At a later time, such stars began to symbolize the path of life, its search. They began to be made by those who want not to stray from the chosen path, thus the star became a guiding star - its image helped not to stray from the chosen path when a person was lost or scared. Later, such stars became symbols of reward, high encouragement, and a sign of distinction.

Star

Stars are often encountered as symbols, and in many cases of design, the specificity of such a symbol depends on the number of angles and also their direction. Like a light shining in the dark, the star is often considered a symbol of truth, spirit and hope. The star symbol embodies the concept of the divine spark within each of us. And their nocturnal nature encourages us to imagine the stars as a struggle against the forces of darkness and the unknown. Stars with a certain design have their own symbolism and meaning. The descending pentagram is where the upper ray of the star points downwards, supposedly imitating the head of a goat, and is considered a sign of the devil. The hexagram, or six-pointed star, is a powerful symbol of the interaction of the Divine with mortals, of God with humanity. The Star of David got its name "Shield of David" from the legend that David carried a shield shaped like a six-pointed star in his battle with the giant Goliath. Also known as the Seal of Solomon or the Creator's Star, its six points represent the six days of the week, and its center corresponds to the Creator's day of rest. The septagram or seven-pointed star is a symbol of integration and everything mystical associated with the number seven. It is associated with the seven planets of classical astrology and with other sevenfold systems, for example, with the seven chakras in Hinduism. The octogram or eight-pointed star is a symbol of abundance and regeneration, and is associated with eightfold systems, for example, in Egyptian mythology, the eight primordial gods personified the forces of chaos. The nonagram or nine-pointed star is a symbol of achievement and stability, although it is the kind of stability that can change. The nonagram can also be associated with nine-fold systems, such as the nine Hindu chakras.

Razor

A tattoo design can symbolize many things, but they all carry the meaning of "sharp" (pointed, cutting, irritated, irritable, uncontrollable). The razor was often used as a suicide tool, synonymous with “cutting the veins.” The straight razor is a classic old school design that was often used as an accessory for cocaine use in the 70's and 80's. Just like brass knuckles, the razor pointed to the professions of people outside the law; it could symbolize depression, the explosive nature of a person, intemperance, and danger.

Hands in Prayer or Hands of an Apostle

If the famous medieval artist, Albrecht Durer, were alive today, he would become a rich man. The copyright to his drawing "Hands in Prayer" could have been sold for millions. It is believed that this was originally a sketch of the mayor of the city of Frankfurt praying. A later version of this painting appeared in another work by Dürer - the hands of an apostle standing in an empty tomb, looking up at the sky at the coronation of the Holy Virgin Mary. The original was destroyed by fire in 1729, however there are many copies that are as good as the sketch. Today this work of Durer is one of the most popular tattoo designs for all occasions, hands clasped in prayer continue to move people, their hearts and minds , especially when this image is supplemented and combined with various additions, such as a cross or rosary. It is often combined with hearts or the name of a loved one, and is applied as a remembrance of someone. Other additions can be in the form of text, requests or with wounds from crucifixion, fire can also be added.
Devil Woman

Devil Woman

Also known as a "fallen woman", a tattoo consisting of an image of a variety of vices, often a woman, holding a bottle of alcohol, cards, dice or other gambling paraphernalia. The motto of such a tattoo is: “Wine, Women and Song!”

Ribbons with inscriptions

- a plot can tell a lot, but there are times in life when a few well-chosen words can tell more than a picture. Each of us at least once remembered the exact time and place of those moments that are very dear to us, and have become something special, they make our heart tremble and beat faster! This is an integral and beautiful part of human life. Sometimes, a few words can say it all. Word tattoos have been popular for a long time. For example, sailors tattooed words on their fingers. The most common ones were, for example, “hold on” on the fingers of one hand, and “quickly” on the fingers of the other, and served as protective amulets (meaning, to stay on the water, not to drown; to quickly get to a place, return home). “Love and hate”, “love and pain”, “life is difficult” - these are the tattoos that were popular on fingers in those years.

Heart

A tattoo in the shape of a heart, with a ribbon around the heart, or a scroll with an inscription across the heart - no explanation is needed here. Your paths with your once loved one may diverge, but the tattoo will remain in the same place. There is an aphorism among old schoolers: “Love lasts six months, but a tattoo lasts forever!” The heart tattoo is a classic old school design that can be seen as an inverted triangle that has become a symbol of all things feminine and is often used as an expression of romantic love. The heart is an eternal symbol of love, feelings and the very power of life for all humanity. Essentially, the heart is responsible for feelings and truth. We say "heartless" about a person who is unjust or extremely cruel. Friendship, courage, romantic relationships and emotional expression are also embodied in this symbol. The human heart occupies a central place in all religions of the world, and is recognized as a symbol of love, as well as the divine principle in man. Over time, it also became a symbol of mercy, piety and understanding. The designation of the heart is suitable for expressing love and joy, as well as for grief and unhappiness (broken heart). Also, the heart is a medieval symbol of Christ, sacrifice, especially in the Roman Catholic Church. The sacred heart shows the redemptive love of God as the source of illumination and happiness, hence the fire and thorns represent the thorned crown that was given to Christ (the crown of thorns) and the fire represents love and spiritual fervor - thus the image of the heart became a symbol of salvation and eternal life .The heart also symbolized the center of man. Not only was it the most significant physical organ, but it was also considered the seat of spirituality and the emotional center from which the love of the divine flowed. In the Gospels, Jesus talks about the heart representing love, humility and gentleness. Since this tattoo design is quite common throughout the world, hearts have become a very popular tattoo design, especially among women. In old school, such a motif is very often placed on the chest. A heart pierced by an arrow is a symbol for expressing directed energy, flow and penetration. Stars and hearts are a symbol of happiness and favorable opportunities. National flags in the form of a heart - a common old school motif in America - indicate great love for the country and patriotism. Hands holding a heart - represents a maternal or paternal type of love in the old school.

Rose

In the West, it represents the same thing as the Lotus in the East. A symbol of love, but a special love that is pure. Because of its beauty, scent and shape, it is the most perfect flower symbol. Of all the flower designs, the rose tattoo is still the most popular and most sought after. An interesting fact is that the rose is in almost the same demand among men as among women. The symbol of passion, chastity and purity reigns supreme among all flowers in the old-school world. A red rose speaks of love, while a rose without thorns means love at first sight. Yellow roses are an expression of joy, white roses are reverence and respect, pink roses are sympathy and admiration, orange roses are enthusiasm. In medieval times, the white rose was a symbol of virginity. The red rose, of course, covers every kind of love - both sacred and romantic, the beauty, variety and graceful scent of the rose has inspired both ordinary people and artists, and even saints. According to the ancient Greek legend, a white rose was born at the moment when Aphrodite was born from sea foam (the white rose turned red later, when Aphrodite, in a hurry to meet Adonis, injured her leg on a rose thorn). The legend about the origin of thorns is also known: Rodanaz was a very beautiful girl, and literally every man dreamed of taking her as his wife. But she was very proud, and believed that no mortal was worthy of her. One fine day, men forced their way into her house. The goddess Diana saw all this, and, angry at the pride of mortals, she turned Rodonaz into a rose and her fans into thorns.

Sexy girls or pinup girls/Bettie Page

Synonym for “Girls with a Perfect Figure” In 1955, Betty Page won the title of “Miss World Picture Girl” (Pin-up - a photograph of a beauty, a pretty girl in photographs for leisurely viewing). Betty is a common noun, an old-school image of a charming girl whose perfect beauty borders on a hint of disobedience and rebellion. The dark-haired girl became a living legend, a symbol of beauty and femininity, and continues to inspire subsequent generations of tattooists and tattoo fans everywhere, because a woman whose physical attractiveness is aimed at seduction and admiration never goes out of style. Initially, such pictures were produced exclusively for wall decoration, but later, tattoos with images of girls and movie stars became commonplace on the skin.

Panther

The largest and most ferocious feline in America, more fierce and dangerous than the tiger, lion or leopard. The panther/jaguar is independent and cunning, and is the only cat that can hunt in water. The panther/jaguar figures prominently in the mythology of most cultures in the South and Central America, and is present in the art and religion of all pre-Columbian civilizations. A very ancient and powerful totem. Many cultures found it very significant that panthers came in two colors - black and yellow (panther and jaguar - the name of the same animal, differ in color) and believed that the black panther was associated with the night sky and the moon, and the yellow panther (jaguar) - with the sun and light. The panther/jaguar was often a symbol of shamans, people who could connect the conscious and unconscious worlds, who had access to the afterlife and the spirit world. Many thought that the panther was a kind of werewolf, capable of transforming itself at will into another image.

Lightning

Flashes of lightning, thunder - everyone is familiar with this formidable phenomenon that occurs during thunderstorms. Is there a more exciting sight than flashes of lightning, fireworks, discharges of electricity, these flashes of white and blue, like some kind of magic and something incredible, appear a few seconds before the sounds of thunder! On a cold, dark, rainy night, a flash of lightning made you see everything as if in daylight, but in a ghostly color. The most powerful symbol and just a godsend for a tattoo! Ancient people had many explanations for this natural phenomenon, and most myths tell of gods and other incredible mythological beings who used lightning as a weapon. Ancient people were very impressed by the power and magic of lightning because the places where lightning struck became scenes of great destruction. Trees burned, the earth was scorched, rocks turned to sand. And if, unfortunately, a person was nearby, he died. For a long time, lightning symbolized the power and wrath of the gods. The Greeks believed that Zeus himself, the father of all gods, who lives on Olympus, threw lightning. Lightning was a symbol of power, as well as a symbol of the vagaries of nature. Since lightning often accompanies rain and thunderstorms, it was also a symbol of abundance, because... rain was a necessary condition for the ripening of a good harvest. In Norse legends, Thor was the God of Thunder, and lightning was the sparks that flew when his mighty hammer of war struck his target. In the Bible, lightning accompanied the appearance of God. Lightning symbolizes the light of truth. The lightning bolt tattoo is popular in many Asian cultures. Lightning bolts are often used in traditional Japanese tattoos, such as the flying dragon.

Horseshoe

- one of the main old-school designs, the downward horns of a horseshoe were an amulet of protection and good luck. In a tattoo, a horseshoe can be depicted alone, or together with other images associated with luck, such as a game of dice or a game of cards, which are laid out in a winning combination, also next to a four-leaf clover. In many parts of Europe and North America, horseshoes are nailed down on the doors of barns and buildings, and depending on cultural and traditional beliefs, may be located in the lower position or upper position. In the case when the horseshoe is located in the upper position, it means like a bowl into which one can catch good luck. And if it was located downwards, it meant that it was as if all the bad luck had been poured out of the cup and would not stay in it for long. The horseshoe as a symbol of good luck began at a time when the first Catholics (Rome) put horses in it to protect their hooves from damage and pain. The Catholics built many roads to strengthen their empire (hence the expression "All roads go to Rome"), and horses were an integral part of the Roman transportation system. It was at that time that the horseshoe became a symbol of wealth, good luck and abundance.

Flame

In an old school tattoo it represents transformation, destruction, change, passion, a beacon of light and a beacon of knowledge, as well as a warning. Fire and flame were often used in religious rituals and symbolism, as the smoke of the fire rose into the heavens and was associated with the wishes and requests of a believer. The ability to destroy made fire respected and feared. But fire can not only destroy, but also bring warmth and light to dispel the darkness. Fire and flame in torches, beacons, and candles represents a symbol of hope, light and knowledge. Fire is one of the four basic elements - including Earth, Water and Wind - and is also one of the basic five Chinese elements. In Hinduism, fire is one of the five sacred elements of which all living beings are composed, and is considered the eternal basis for sacred religious ceremonies. In Christianity, fire is a symbol of the Holy Spirit (purification) and is often used in descriptions of hell. Fire is also a symbol of temptation and sin, and Satan is often depicted surrounded by fire. In mythology, the Phoenix burns in fire and is reborn from its own ashes. Fire is a symbol of transformation and rebirth and represents the cycle of life.

Eight ball

This design can have several different meanings and its symbolism depends on the context in which it is used. In general, the “eighth ball” ends the game of pool, but due to the rules of the game, pocketing the “eighth ball” in your shot automatically makes you a loser - you lose the game. And since many billiard halls were known for their bad reputation (we can see this in some films, for example, in “The Hustler” with Paul Newman, and “The Color of Money” with Newman and T. Cruise), then the “eight ball” in tattoos imply alcohol, drugs, gambling, women of easy virtue, gambling, etc. Some people view the "eight ball" as giving them a chance, if they're lucky, everything will work out. This is the tattoo that hints at walking on the edge or testing fate. The term "eight ball" also carries a certain slang concept, such as a very dangerous combination of heroin and cocaine. If you had asked a dealer in the 60s and 70s in the USA for “coke for the eighth ball,” he would have understood exactly what dose you needed, thus the “eighth ball” symbolizes the willingness to take risks and the possibility of success or failure, in other words, “Life is gambling!"

Pigeon

The symbol of the holy spirit in some Christian interpretations and is often used to represent the Baptism of Jesus Christ, the most familiar episode from the Bible is the story of the Flood, when God told Noah to build an Ark and take on it a pair of every animal and bird. According to the Bible, during the flood, God sent torrential rains and the entire world was flooded. Only Noah and his family and the creatures on board the Ark survived the flood. After many weeks at sea, Noah freed first the Raven and then the Dove to fly to find land. The dove returned with an olive branch in its beak, and Noah and his family were very happy that the flood had receded. The dove has become a powerful symbol as a harbinger of hope. Others believe that the flight of the freed dove also symbolizes the exit of the soul.

Dolphin

The popularity of this motif is explained by the fact that for a long time there has been an invisible connection between humans and dolphins. Humans and dolphins have coexisted together for quite a long time, and even now, the more we learn about these creatures, the more we tend to believe that the dolphin carries some kind of divine spark that separates them from other animals. It has long been believed that dolphins serve as some kind of connection between the surface and underwater worlds. Swimming with dolphins, for example, helps children cope with various ailments, calms and helps people suffering from depression or nervous disorders. It's no surprise that the dolphin tattoo has become so popular.

Game of dice

Is the familiar numbered cube we all played with as children and is popular in many cultures around the world. Dice games, by their very nature, rely more on luck than skill. Like a tattoo, the game of dice is a metaphor for life: sometimes in life, as in gambling, it is more important to get a chance than to be talented, so the game of dice can be seen as a symbol of good luck. But at the same time, playing dice is often interpreted in a tattoo as one of the elements of gambling, and is often included in common human vices, including playing cards, drugs and alcohol, weapons, betting on the racetrack, racing and communication with women. behavior. The expression “rolling the dice” implies taking a risk in which the result will be completely unknown, which a person cannot control. This implies that the outcome of such a risk will depend only on fate and the chance given to the person. The well-known expression: “The die is cast” (an aphorism by Julius Caesar when crossing the Rubicon) means that a choice has been made, but the result is unknown.

Scull

Skulls are represented in almost all genres of tattoos: nautical themes (with crossed bones were depicted on pirate flags), old school, new school and even biomechanics... There is something mystical in the largest human bone, one look at the skull and we see that death stared at us from large dark empty eye sockets. It's no surprise that the skull is known throughout the world as a symbol of death. In many cultures, the symbol of the skull is a reminder of our own mortality, as the immortal Latin says, “Memento mori!” (memento Mori). William Shakespeare uses the skull to great effect: when Hamlet discovers Yorick's skull in the graveyard in the first scene of Act 5, he speaks directly to the skull. The physical object of a skull is used to symbolize the theme of human mortality and death presented in the game. In the end, none of us can escape death, and even Kings will be eaten by worms. In Christian art and culture, the skull has been presented as a symbol of eternity, repentance and human vanity and also a reminder of death. In medieval, religious paintings we can often see Adam with a skull placed at the feet of the Cross as a symbol of payment for sin. The ancient symbol of a skull with a snake was a symbol of knowledge and immortality, denoting knowledge that survived death. Many Renaissance works feature skulls as a reminder of the importance of living a virtuous life. Historically, the skull was a popular symbol of triumph over an enemy, and a warning to people defeated in battle. Skulls served as trophies and large numbers of skulls could be piled up by the victors in public places, as direct proof of victory over the enemy and a grim reminder of the losses of the vanquished. Today, the skull is as popular as in ancient times. In movies, games, literature, comics, and of course, tattoos, the skull continues to collect various symbolic meanings, since there is a huge creative field for the artist’s imagination.

Knife/Dagger

- These types of tattoo designs are popular in many different styles. A knife or dagger can be either an independent tattoo or part of a painting. Dry history: For example, the ancient Aztecs used special ceremonial daggers to cut out the still-beating hearts from their human victims, thereby paying homage to the gods. Such a dagger represented the fearsome and capricious power of the gods. Wherever sacrifice was practiced: in the Middle East, Babylon, Mesopotamia, Persia and many other cultures, knives were used to make sacrifices to the gods. The image of a knife, bloodletting and death are all intertwined. The ability to shed blood, the very essence of life, is an unusually powerful image and a very powerful symbol - the bringer of death. The knife/dagger is present in many military tattoos due to its use as a weapon, excellent for close combat due to its silent action. Many special forces include knives and daggers in their mandatory equipment. The symbolism of a knife or dagger in military designs is very similar to a sword tattoo, but with a less noble pedigree. A knife or dagger represents ferocity, speed, tenacity and death. As weapons, the knife and dagger have been known since ancient times; all knights and nobles carried daggers as weapons in addition to their spears and swords, therefore they were the last line of defense of a fighter and were used last - a kind of last chance. Since prehistoric times, the knife was considered the first tool in the human arsenal, it was used to skin animals, protect their homes, and for obtaining and cutting food, becoming better and better as humanity developed. Since the knife had many functions, and absolutely all men from different classes used them, gradually the handle of the knife/dagger began to be decorated with gold and jewelry, and over time it became an indicator of a person’s class. For reference, men, for example, began to shake hands when greeting each other to demonstrate that they were not hiding a dagger or other bladed weapon in their hands. Tattoos of knives and daggers are very popular in both old school and new school to this day - it symbolizes a willingness to accept measures, to be bold and fearless, ready to answer for the insult. A knife in the heart means betrayal in love, and often simply infidelity, and a skull pierced with a knife means a person risking his life, fully committed to his ideas. A skull with a knife in the teeth symbolizes action . We often see this in tattoos from the beginning of the century: skulls, demons, pirates - depicted with knives in their teeth, this is the clearest way to show: “I’m ready for anything!”

Cross

There is no more universal religious image or symbol than the Christian Cross. Religious symbolism is prominently featured in many genres of tattooing, both ancient and modern, and in fact it can be argued that all traditional tattoos among various peoples carry a strong spiritual element within them. The cross tattoo has been known for at least the past two centuries, sailors and merchants were tattooed with them, it is considered an old-school classic, and is still mega-popular among all segments of the population in many countries around the world. The cross itself is one of the oldest and most important symbols in the history of mankind - the vertical and horizontal lines representing Father and Mother Nature, the point of intersection of the two lines - the point of synthesis - represented those mystical and spiritual concepts that embraced the meeting of the material and spiritual in human existence. Of all types of crosses, the Roman or Latin cross is the most popular and unmistakable symbol of Christianity; it was on such a cross that Jesus Christ was crucified. One of the oldest crosses was placed in a circle. This so-called Solar Cross or Cross of the Wheel appeared in Europe, often carved into rocks or petroglyphs. They are also found in Asia, America and India. Since the cross has been used all over the world, it is not surprising that it has many meanings in many different cultures. Even before Christianity, the cross was the most common symbol throughout the world: in Scandinavia, in pre-Columbian America, China and Africa, it symbolized life and immortality, abundance, the union of heaven and earth, sun and stars (the four pointers symbolized North, South, East and The West or the four winds, the elements, not to mention the human form of the body) and was used as a protective symbol. Four thousand years ago, the Indian Cross was a symbol of everything good and auspicious for man. Such a cross was called the circle of life, denoting the ever-changing world around the unchanging Center of God. Later, thanks to Hitler, the swastika became a symbol of Nazi Germany and radically changed its meaning in the minds of most people. The Ankh Cross, unique because of its loop above the cross, came to be used in astrology as a symbol of Venus, and is still used today in biology to indicate the female gender. The ancient Egyptians used the hieroglyph ankh to symbolize regeneration, and it was later adopted by Christians to symbolize physical and eternal life. The Greek cross was mentioned in the history of ancient Greece three thousand years ago, today it is recognized as a symbol of the Red Cross, being equal in all four parts.

Cherry

Fruits symbolize abundance, and deep red, ripe and juicy cherries are no exception. The cherry symbolizes chastity and purity as the fruit ripens on the trees. A picked cherry represents the loss of innocence and dignity. A bitten cherry is no longer a virgin. A cherry surrounded by fire speaks of an insatiable desire or passion.

The use of transferable tattoos knows no bounds! Firstly, you can safely apply transfer tattoos to your body. When printing, natural food dyes are used, which are absolutely safe for the skin. Secondly, decorate your modern gadgets and accessories with them. Thirdly, create an original gift for any holiday with your own hands. Just apply a transfer tattoo, for example, on a New Year's ball or glass mug. Make yourself and your loved ones happy every day!