Tribal Tattoos

Tribal Ink From Around the World

Tribal tattoos have been been practiced in one form or another for millenia. While the practice may be somewhat different nowadays there are still many who get tribal tattoos for reasons which could be described as neo-tribal in their quest to belong to a 'tribe' (either neo-tribal or traditional) even if it is on a subconscious level. Most simply get tribal tattoos because of their striking appearance.

Historically getting tattooed was seen as a rite of passage into adulthood. A belief goes that if a girl can't take the pain of tattooing, she is un-marriageable, because she will never be able to deal with the pain of child birth. If a boy can't deal with the pain he is considered to be a bad risk as a warrior, and could become isolated from the tribe.

© Tattoo by Nissaco from Chopstick Tattoo

Some primitive tribes use tattooing as a rite of social status. The Maori peoples of New Zealand use tattooing primarily for this purpose. To the Maori, a person's Moko designs enhanced their prestige and show transition from one social status to another. At its highest level, Moko designs proclaimed the sacredness of chieftainship.

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An offshoot of Maori tattooing for health is tattooing to preserve youth. Maori girls tattooed their lips and chin, for this reason. When an old Ainu lady's eyesight is failing, she can re-tattoo her mouth and hands, for better vision.

© Tattoo by Nissaco from Chopstick Tattoo

The Hawaiians are prominent among people who have specific tattoo gods. In Hawaii, the images of the tattoo gods are kept in the temples of tattoo priests. Each tattoo session begins with a prayer to the tattoo gods that the operation might not cause death, that the wounds might heal soon, and that the designs might be handsome.

In the 1970's, American tattooing discovered primitive, tribal tattoos. People wanted simple designs with meaning and they began copying Polynesian tattoos primarily from the islands of the South Pacific. In the past few decades, people of westerners began looking for tribal tattoos of their own origins and created a new form of tattoo commonly known as neo tribal. Many old school American tattooists will tell you...

When you should get a tattoo, the tattoo god will tell you that it is time

© Tattoo by Nissaco from Chopstick Tattoo.

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Iban Tribal Tattoo 
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Celtic Trlbal Tattoo 
It's an old Gaelic Eri Irish symbol for Strength to some this Emblem is mistaken for a skeleton of a black Widow all though I am a widower but it's the ...

Tribal Wings and Sun Tattoo 
Took about a hour of work. Found the design on the internet and it was the only set I've ever seen.

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Flowers Butterflies Swirls and Stars 
My tattoo starts on the left of my lower back and sweeps 2/3 of the way up my side. I have had it extended three times now, starting with a 2.5cm butterfly ...

Tribal Tattoo on Leg 
Tattoo by Joe's Tattoo, Design by myself.

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Octopus Tattoo 
Octopus surrounding my butt. Artist Paul @ Artrageous, Auckland, New Zealand did the work . Was done in 3 sessions about 4 hours each.

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Om Symbol Tattoo 
That`s special for me and it`s pretty cool and original...I like my tattoo!!!

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Polynesian Tribal Tattoo 
This tatau took two three hour sessions and is a contemporary Samoan tribal peace...

The artist goes by the name of Alipate Fetuli-Taula.

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Tribal Yin Yang Sun Tattoo on Back 
A tribal sun with spirals for fire and a yin yang in the center. Seventh Street did my tat for me and i love it.

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Wolf Tattoo 
The tattoo i did was of a wolf head howling. It took me 3 1/2 hours. I did it for a friend. I am self taught, never by any one.
lilley_64@hotmail....

Lords Prayer Tattoo 
I love this tattoo. It is one of my favorite ..

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Dark Angel Tattoo on Shoulder 
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Tribal / Cross Tattoo 
My tattoo is a tribal tattoo that is wrapped around a baby blue cross. The reason why I got it is because the cross represents my religion. The baby blue ...

Tribal Tattoo 
Took a few days to do, its not yet completed. My arm and shoulder were done a few months ago and I have had my stomach and chest done recently.

I had ...

Original Tribal Tattoo Design 
The tattoo is an original tribal design. It took a little over three hours and was done by Jeff from Immortal Art in Scottsdale, AZ.

Tribal Tattoo 
I designed it myself. It took about 2 hours,i still need to get a touch up. I got it when i was 17.

Animal Tattoo 
This is a tattoo to represent my birthday it is unfinished as I am not sure what to add but I just feel it needs more it took 3 hours to complete ..

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Butterfly Tattoo With Tribal on Lower Back 
This was my first tattoo that i got for my 16th birthday! It took about 30-45 minutes. Its now 3 years old and hasnt even really faded. There is Blue, purple ...

Small Tribal Tattoo on Breastbone  Not rated yet
Two tattoos i got when i graduated.

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Bad Ass Lower Back Tattoo  Not rated yet
sex\y

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Tribal Tattoo on Female  Not rated yet
Took an hour.

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Thai Hanuman & Free Form Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
Thai Hauman on K9guru- 14 hrs. By Danny Romo, Los Angeles, California. Mark Mahoney Shamrock Social Club.

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Modern Tribal Tautau  Not rated yet
Three days for outline...
One needle...
Artist - Teiu Teiu Numata

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Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
I got this tattoo in Lafayette, La by Chad at AAA.

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Tribal Sleeve Tattoo  Not rated yet
This tribal full sleeve took almost 80 hours to finish and about 3 years to do so also I have my name on my forearm intertwined in with the tribal sleeve....

Tribal Sleeve & Eye of Ra Tattoos  Not rated yet
This tribal full sleeve took almost 80 hours to finish and about 3 years to do so also I have my name on my forearm intertwined in with the tribal sleeve....

Tribal Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
Drew this a few years ago. Decided to get it inked.

BN TATTOO of Windsor, CO 80550.
Artist - Bill.
4 hours total.

Holding nice color.

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Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
This was my first tattoo that kept getting extended and it kinda got out of hand. The tattooist is Mark From 'Custom Inc' in Glasgow. He also tattooed ...

Tribal Tattoo on Arm  Not rated yet
Took 1 hour.

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Tribal Tattoo on Back  Not rated yet
2 sittings and 5 hours by Phil Banks at the Pavillion, Clacton on Sea in UK.

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'Freedom' Tattoo  Not rated yet
Chris Spivey, Southend-on-Sea
Liberte meaning freedom in French.
Inner wrist.
10-15 minutes.
First tattoo, healed well.
Not as painful as I though ...

Tribal Cross Tattoo  Not rated yet
Only took about an hour or 2 hours? First tattoo I've ever gotten, and looking forward to getting my next, Artist was Steve.

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Tribal Butterfly Tattoo  Not rated yet
Butterfly tribal tattoo. Well it took him about 40 mins, This one is on my leg. I have a tribal butterfly on my neck also. I have tribal tattoo on my lower ...

Tribal Design Tattoo  Not rated yet
This is a great design of tribal. It only took 3 hours to do.

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Freehand Tattoo  Not rated yet
This eye tattoo took about 45 minutes to complete it was done completely freehand.

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Tribal Zodiac Tattoo  Not rated yet
Taurus bull, done in Phoenix, Arizona.

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Trippy Tribal Sleeve Tattoo  Not rated yet
1/2 finished tribal. went one place for the base tribal, dude screwed up way bad, now going to other dude who is adding the trippy shit and shading, few ...

Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
Tribal dragon and tiger with fire above.

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Chinese Symbol Tattoo  Not rated yet
This is a tattoo on my lower back. The symbol means family, and the initials are for my sisters and brother. The artists name was Brian. Body Graphics ...

Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
3 Hours, bottom of arm is coverup, tattooed by Ash in Warrington UK

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Animation-Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
I have about 9 tattoo's with about 10 hours of work done all together, My first tattoo on my upper left arm is a animation piece done by my uncle Chet ...

Tribal Dragon Tattoo  Not rated yet
The sweetest Tribal Dragon design I have found to date. -Joe- at Skinny Boy (between Post Falls and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) has a super steady hand and draws ...

Rose Tattoo  Not rated yet
It's a spade with 4 roses with skulls in the center. It took about 3 hours. I got it done in Gastonia, NC at living arts tattoo parlor. Mike did it for ...

Tribal Tattoo With Stars   Not rated yet
This is my first tattoo and i love it very much...

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Angel Tattoo With Rosary  Not rated yet
An angel praying with a rosary; It took about an hour to do it is my own design..

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Tribal Design  Not rated yet
My Tattoo was done at my home by my wife. It was her first one. Took about an hour and a half. I bought a tattoo kit, took all the precautions, so it was ...

Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
I like skulls and tribal tattoos and when i saw this one i wanted it bad. It took about a hour and a half with a few water breaks.

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Sexy Tribal Tattoos  Not rated yet
The Vertical Ones Are 3D Colored The Horizontal One Are Just Outline And In The Process Of Being Colored Solid! The Vertical One Took 3 Hours Each Side ...

Gnarly Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
It's a tribal tattoo which took 2 hours. It was realized by a Tunisian young tattooist named Black Aangel Ferid.

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Abstract Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
It took my artist ummm....about 6 hours. It is something very different that he just drew up and I love it!

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Bull Tattoo  Not rated yet
The rock's bull tattoo

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Tattoos From Down Under  Not rated yet
This tattoo is a cross with some scrolls. The fishing rods represent my dad because he loved his fishing and the symbol. In the middle is his football ...

Back Tattoo on Dude  Not rated yet
My back tattoo with picture of masks inscribed 'smile now cry later' ..

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Black and Gray Tattoo Work With Nice Shading  Not rated yet
Mermaid with ship set in a palm tree frame. my future son-in-law Ralphy did the work. he is at the nuclear crayon in Springfield Mass. it took about 4....

Yin Yang Tattoo on Back  Not rated yet
This tatto was taken from a small sticker was done by 'Smithys Tattoos' here in Bremerton took 3 1/2 hours ..

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Tribal Tattoo  Not rated yet
Destiny .. fate

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