Ink That New Found Culture & Tradition Over An Old One With Our Tribal Tattoo Cover Up
Tribal tattoos can be seen in historical accounts from all across the world.
Traditions of getting tribal tattoos date back centuries. The acceptance of tribal tattoo designs has increased alongside the popularity of getting tattoos in general.
Throughout history, tattooing has been an ancient art form, and in some societies, it is still used to show status and family affiliation and to mark important life events.
It typically features solid black ink for dots and lines and is reserved for ceremonial or sacred placements.
Tribal designs can be incorporated into forearm tattoos, wrist tattoos, bicep tattoos, or sleeve tattoos.
Several contemporary artists use a wide range of colours and shades to liven up their tattoo designs. But tribal tattoos being bold and dark makes them such a good tattoo cover-up option.
Many people today want elaborate, colourful designs to hide their old tattoos, but others choose a more traditional tribal design.
If you’re a fan of traditional cool tattoos, Pearl Lemon Tattoos has a collection of tribal tattoos in its portfolio. We can help you develop a tattoo idea that best suits your cover-up.
Get in touch with us today for a new tattoo on your old tattoo.
Origin of Tribal Tattoos
Today’s tribal tattoos are primarily based on these ancient patterns from ancient tribal art. Here are a few places with a long history of tribal tattoos.
Southeast Asia
Monks and visitors alike bear sacred “Sak Yant” tattoos in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. These stunning artworks feature intricate geometric patterns, animal figures, Buddhist mantras, and beautiful Khmer writing.
Warriors have been getting tattoos for thousands of years, hoping it will give them an advantage in battle. Tattoos like these were made with bamboo-a, a widely used technique in the region today.
Egypt
Dating back to roughly 2000 BC, tattoos on mummies from northern Africa have been discovered. High Priestesses in ancient Egypt frequently had elaborate tattoos, particularly on their arms, as a form of body art.
Several other mummies have been discovered with tattoos linked to concepts of rebirth and worshipping the sun. In addition to protecting the wearer from harm, it was thought that tattoos had curative properties.
Polynesia
Nearly all members of ancient Polynesian society, both sexes, sported body art. Tribal affiliation, social status, genealogy, and sexual maturity may all be deduced from a person’s tattoo. Tattoos had strong associations with both religious and military practices.
Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, and New Zealand are just a few Polynesian countries where tribal tattoos are an accepted part of life. It was not until 1771, after James Cook had returned to Europe from his expedition to Tahiti and New Zealand, that the word “tattoo” was first used in Europe.
Britain
When you think of a tribal tattoo, Britain might not be the first place that comes to mind. While Christianity eventually made its way to the British Islands, the intricate Celtic knots and crosses predate it by centuries.
There was once a civilisation known as the Picts, whose name meant “painted people.” Celtic art frequently features not only crosses and knots but also birds, trees, and other elements of the natural environment.
Southeast Asia
Monks and visitors alike bear sacred “Sak Yant” tattoos in Thailand and the rest of Southeast Asia. These stunning artworks feature intricate geometric patterns, animal figures, Buddhist mantras, and beautiful Khmer writing.
Warriors have been getting tattoos for thousands of years, hoping it will give them an advantage in battle. Tattoos like these were made with bamboo-a, a widely used technique in the region today.
Popular Tribal Tattoo Designs and Their Meanings
If you’re just starting out with tattoos, you might be curious about what a tribal tattoo design represents in different contexts.
Honouring Mythical Heroes
In the past, many people looked up to mythical heroes or cultural heroes and having a tribal tattoo depicting them was seen as both a sign of respect and a connection to one’s ancestors.
War
The Samoans and the Maoris are only two examples of the many cultures that have used tribal tattoos for men as a way to honour war victories or recognition of oneself as a soldier.
Spirituality
Many ancient human societies placed a high value on spirituality. Humans often used tattoos to protect against demons and evil spirits.
Guardian Spirits and Totem Animals
Many indigenous peoples, including Native Americans, believed that a person with a totem animal could transform into that animal. Similarly, a person’s tattoo was thought to invite a protective spirit to watch over them.
Health
Some people got tattoos in the hopes that they would heal or protect them from disease.
Sympathetic Magic
Sympathetic magic was a common belief among ancient peoples, who believed that tribal tattoos depicting these creatures could be used to channel the abilities of animals. Typically, this took the form of cave paintings depicting a hunt or other comparable activity.
Several societies have tattooed fearsome creatures onto their bodies to capture the animal’s spirit and gain its power.
Tribal Tattoo Cover-Ups: Advice on Choosing the Right One
Though tribal tattoo cover up can vary significantly in appearance, they all share a significance rooted in the culture from which they originated. Here are a few factors to remember while deciding on a tribal tattoo cover up.
1. Study the history and significance of tribal tattoos
Before having a tribal tattoo cover up, you should learn about their significance and the culture they represent. Look into the meanings of various symbol placements to see how they might apply to you.
2. Decide what you want your tattoo to express about you.
Tribal tattoos often have hidden meanings in their patterns of dots, lines, and other designs. Animal symbols have their own unique meanings. You should consider what you want your tattoo to signify or say about you before you begin designing it.
3. Find a tribal tattoo artist with experience
Talk to your tattoo artist about your vision for the design and the more profound significance behind the tattoo. Before getting inked, have them sketch a design, and you may both approve it.
Pearl Lemon Tattoos is home to seasoned tattoo artists specialising in tribal cover-ups. All kinds of tribal designs are doable for our artists. Stop by our shop, and we’ll discuss the significance of these patterns and help you choose an appropriate cover-up design to conceal your old ink.
Get in touch with us right away.
Why Choose Pearl Lemon Tattoos?
At Pearl Lemon Tattoos, our talented artists provide a practical guide on creating your one-of-a-kind tribal tattoo cover-up. Essentially, you will create your design, and your artist will bring it to life.
You can pick from various approaches with us, from creating entirely new symbols to fusing modern aesthetics with traditional tribal tattooing.
We intend to open the world of tattoo art to everybody interested in getting one.
To learn more, check out our website.
