Tattoo Flash Portfolio, circa 1918
Add to SetSummary
Tattoos communicate stories. Their content ranges from deeply personal and traditional--to regrettable and frivolous. In the early 1900s, "Professor" Waters apprenticed as a tattoo artist in carnivals and New York's Bowery District. He ran a successful supply shop in Detroit (1918-1939), patenting the standard "two-coil" tattoo machine in 1929. Designs from his flash sheets continue to inspire tattooists today.
Tattoos communicate stories. Their content ranges from deeply personal and traditional--to regrettable and frivolous. In the early 1900s, "Professor" Waters apprenticed as a tattoo artist in carnivals and New York's Bowery District. He ran a successful supply shop in Detroit (1918-1939), patenting the standard "two-coil" tattoo machine in 1929. Designs from his flash sheets continue to inspire tattooists today.
Artifact
Portfolio (Group of works)
Date Made
circa 1918
Creators
Creator Notes
Possibly made by Charles Wagner or Harry Lawson.
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
80.63.3
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Technique
Hand coloring
Reprographic processes
Color
Black-and-white (Colors)
Multicolored
Dimensions
Height: 10.5 in
Width: 16 in
Length: 0.875 in
Share Anywhere
Use this Artifact Card to share this great find with others. From historic images to vivid descriptions, a record of rich detail is bundled inside a single card.
