Tattoo Flash Portfolio, circa 1918

Summary

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

Wagner, Charles, 1875-1953 

Lawson, Harry V. 

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

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