Traditional Tattoo Ideas & Meanings – Anchors, Daggers, Flash, Ships & More…

The distinct style of traditional tattooing developed during the 18th to 20th centuries. The tattooing practice was picked up from native cultures across the world by explorers, sailors and the like. These voyagers put their own spin on traditional tattooing with the result being the emergence of the western traditional tattoo style.

There are countless flash designs which take inspiration from early sailors experiences. You’ll notice a large majority of traditional tattoos are of exotic animals, sexualised women, and of course, anything that falls within the maritime theme. It was not long before the popularity of traditional tattoos increased, and it wasn’t just sailors who wore this style of design.

For a period of time, tattoos were often linked to criminals and people in the circus, however there is extensive evidence to support that their popularity reached those of a higher class also. This highlights that traditional tattoos appealed to many, irrespective of the individuals background or demographic. There has been a considerable shift in attitude towards tattoos over time. Particularly, the variety of subject matter and what it represents and they are now appealing to a wider cross section of society. However, there is still progress to be made.

More popular than ever, traditional artists these days, use tried and tested methods to design pieces which are meant to last (which you can also spot from a mile away!) Often based off old flash designs from the legends of the field, traditional tattoo designs depict simple imagery with clean, bold line work and use a limited colour palette.

By getting a traditional tattoo you are paying homage to the art form and keeping tradition alive. Each motif has its own distinct meaning and these have stood the test of time.

We all hope that when we get a tattoo we’ll love them forever but occasionally we do change our minds. With recent advancements in laser technology there are now options for removing or altering existing tattoos, with laser tattoo removal becoming a popular method for those looking for either a complete removal or fading for a cover up tattoo.